COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 14 (UPI) -- Todd Richards, who has been the Columbus Blue Jackets' interim coach since January, Monday was given a two-year contract as head coach, the NHL team said.
Financial terms of the agreement weren't released. Richards is the seventh head coach for Columbus, which has been in the NHL just 12 seasons.
Richards took over for Scott Arniel, who was fired in early January when the Blue Jackets were an NHL-worst 11-25-5.
Columbus won seven of its last 11 games and went 18-21-2 under Richards. The team ended up with just 65 points, the lowest in the league.
Richards was hired as an assistant for Arniel's staff in June 2011 after two seasons as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild.
"As we analyzed available coaching candidates and individuals who might become available, it became very clear to us that he is the right person to lead our team," said Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson about Richards.
"Our team continuously improved under Todd and he has earned the opportunity to build upon the work he started."
Counting his two seasons with the Wild, Richards has a coaching record of 95-92-18 but his teams have never made the playoffs.
