A former UPEI basketball player has been named the head coach of the men's basketball team.

Darrell Glenn says he is looking forward to returning to his alma mater to lead the team to a winning season — and maybe more.

"I really hope that we can bring an exciting brand of basketball that people are going to want to watch and that are going to be able to produce results on the court," he said. "I'd like to see the program win a national championship."

Glenn will return to Prince Edward Island this summer from Toronto, where he was the head basketball coach at Seneca College.

He said he's always wanted to coach at the CIS level and at UPEI.

"We have a lot of roots and a lot of friends there. I played there, my wife played there. I think it's a really good time."

Glenn said the challenge will be recruiting top talent to the team to replace the experience and talent lost from its roster in the last year.

The new coach added that being a former student and a coach in the women's basketball program will help him with recruiting.

Glenn played for the UPEI Panthers from 1988 to 1994 and was a member of the 1988–89 AUS championship team.

He said he is happy to be returning to the smaller, tight-knit community at UPEI.

"And I'm really really excited about the opportunity to come back to my alma mater and be a part of trying to build a national contender."