In hiring Anastos, a former Spartan and CCHA Commissioner with no Division I head coaching experience, MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis made a bold move for the future of Spartan hockey. It’s a history that only has seen five prior coaches in almost 70 years of hockey.

Anastos said at his introductory press conference he has a tough assignment following three Hall of Fame coaches at MSU.

But that’s not the tough assignment.

No one is asking him to win 700 games.

No one is asking him to stick around for 20-plus years. They’re asking him to win, and win now. At least the fans are.

The dwindling crowds at Munn Ice Arena want to see the storied MSU hockey program do better than second-to-last place finishes in conference play ­— which they’ve seen two of the last three seasons.

MSU is recruiting less talent and sending even less to the NHL.

The few top-level players who make it to East Lansing are leaving quicker than they came in.

The program needs somebody to kick-start it back into gear, to start playing the top level of hockey fans have come to see through the past 40 years.

That’s why the hiring of Anastos came as a surprise to everyone, including Mason.

Anastos’ coaching résumé includes four years as the head coach at Michigan-Dearborn and three years as an assistant under Mason. Throw in some time as a youth hockey coach in there as well.

Hollis said he understands the surprise the hire will generate. But he also said if one takes a step back and thinks about it, it’s a great hire.

When I take a step back and think about it, I don’t know what to think.

There’s nothing to base the hire off of; no prior major college coaching experience.

Anastos talked about the boldness of Hollis during his introduction.

Hollis started the outdoor hockey craze, he’s putting a basketball game on an aircraft carrier. Anastos himself brought college hockey to Ford Field.

But MSU doesn’t need more places to play sporting events, it needs a winning hockey program.

I can’t praise the hire, but I can’t bash it either, especially given Hollis’ track record with coaches (Mark Dantonio, Suzy Merchant, Jake Boss Jr. and others).

The timing of the announcement is a bit ironic. On Saturday, Western Michigan will play North Dakota in a regional semifinal in the NCAA Tournament.

The Broncos, a conference bottom-dweller for quite some time, have reached the tournament for the first time in 15 years under first-year head coach Jeff Blashill.

No offense to Western Michigan, but if a tournament team can be made in Kalamazoo, it can be made in East Lansing.

With a Big Ten hockey conference likely coming in 2013, MSU needs to turn its hockey program around fast.

Other teams in the league, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota are some of the best in college hockey, while Ohio State is solid and Penn State’s upcoming team is garnering a lot of buzz and support.

I don’t know what to think of the Anastos hire overall. Do I think he can turn the program around and find success in the long term? Yes. But I’m not sure if MSU needed a coach who still is looking to find his coaching wings.

Hollis is a guy who has been questioned and doubted for many of his ideas, many of which turn out to be revolutionary.

So if there’s anyone who can make a crazy idea work, it’s Hollis.

Chris Vannini is a State News sports reporter. He can be reached at vanninic@msu.edu.