Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire
If it wasn't for Jankowski and Gillies, 99% of people here wouldn't recognize the name. Jumping from coaching in college to the NHL is a big jump. If the Flames are looking for a rookie NHL coach I would rather them go after an AHL coach like Travis Green.
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I agree it is a big jump, but...
Let's take a quick look at Nate Leaman:
Won the NCAA championship as an assistant coach with Maine in 1999.
8 seasons at Union as head coach. Built that program up into one of the very best programs in the entire NCAA. ECAC coach of the year in his final 2 seasons there. In his last season at Union, he also won the Spencer Penrose Awared (Best coach in NCAA Division 1) - 2010-11.
Moved over to Providence (which hasn't been a good program). Here is where most of 'us' are familiar with. Of course he won the NCAA championship. Named the USCHO coach of the year that championship year. He is widely respected as one of the very best coaches in the entire NCAA.
Let's compare him to who is widely thought of as the NHL's best coach - Mike Babcock - before his shot at being an NHL head coach.
3 years with Red Deer College. Won the Provincial Collegiate Championship once. Named Coach of the year.
Moved over to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL - 2 losing seasons, but placing 6th and 8th in the eastern standings.
After that, he moved over the University of Lethbridge for one season. It was a hell of a season - they unexpectedly won the CIS championship, and he was named coach of the year.
Moved back to the WHL, and experienced a lot more success this time around. Was with the Spokane Chiefs - some really good seasons, some really poor seasons (as to be expected with any Junior club really). Overall record was good - .564 winning percentage over 6 full seasons. No championships, but was named West Division coach of the year twice.
Then he finally went to the AHL - only for 2 seasons. 1 very good season, 1 above average season. Made the playoffs both years, but that was it.
Now, I don't think Babcock's resume is more impressive than Nate Leaman's before he got his first NHL head coaching gig - one where he led Anaheim to the finals. NCAA is a superior league to CIS and Major Junior - and Nate Leaman was noted for building up two programs, winning coach of the year in both divisions he was in, and winning the equivalent of the Jack Adams for the entire NCAA.
I guess it depends what 2 seasons' worth of AHL experience means. Definitely a step up on the NCAA, that's for sure, but is 2 season's worth of 'decent' results mandatory before someone is offered a head coaching position? I would consider Nate Leaman a 'more accomplished' coach right now than what Babcock was right before he entered the NHL.
Ask yourself this question: Who do you think has been the best head coach the Calgary Flames ever had? In my opinion, it is
'Badger' Bob Johnson. Guess how many seasons of AHL he had? Zero. Flames hired him directly out of the NCAA - I think that was a pretty good hire.
A good mind is a good mind. Now, I am not campaigning that the Flames have to get Leaman, or even that he is the best candidate out there. There probably are much better candidates, and I hope the Flames hire the very best candidate they can. He is, however, a very highly regarded coach in the NCAA, and is seen as someone who will get an NHL head coaching chance sooner rather than later. Boston apparently was very interested in him this off-season.
I personally would be fine if the Flames brought in a coach from the NCAA. I just want them to get a good coach, period, whether it be a recycled one that has tonnes of NHL experience, an up-and-coming AHL head coach, an NHL head coach assistant, and NCAA head coach, or even heck - a European head coach (though I have absolutely no idea if any would possibly be considered - and I am NOT referring to Crawford or Keenan).