Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson was named head coach of the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators on Wednesday.

Richardson signed a two-year contract that will run through the 2013-14 season. The 43-year-old will be joined by assistant coach Steve Stirling and video coach Matt Meacham. The former National Hockey League defenceman had been an assistant coach in Ottawa since retiring in 2009.

According to Sportsnet’s Ian Mendes, Richardson’s daughter attends Cornell University, which is a short drive from Binghamton, and many believe this is a contributing factor to him accepting the job.

The native of Ottawa and spent over 20 seasons in the NHL playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning and finished his career with the Senators.

In 1417 games the seventh-overall pick in the 1987 NHL Draft registered 35 goals, 201 points and 2,055 penalty minutes.