RPI GIVES FRIDGEN A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.(SPORTS)

Byline: BOB CROCE Staff writer

TROY Dan Fridgen says he never worried about his future as RPI's hockey coach once his team faltered heading into the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs.

Instead, he forgot he was a rookie head coach on a one-year contract and continued to execute a plan for his Engineers.

``Above everything else, you always want to put the team first,'' said Fridgen, who was re-signed Wednesday for three more years. ``Anything regarding my own personal situation was pushed to the back in my mind.

``I kind of looked at it like I was an athlete in high school wondering if I would be offered that college …