Re: Toot Cahoon Steps Down as UMass Head Coach
and writing that it is an absurd statement is....?
He is the perfect coach for the job.
very difficult to compete consistantly with BU/BC/UNH/Maine for U Mass. they have had spotted success with a late bloomer or stud, aka Quick type. Outside that, they can not get the top mass/new england region kids to come there. Thus they have to go to USHL/BCHL for their top line guys. Few have as good a track record as Carlson does. he knows every coach in both leagues and is trusted by the coaches at the high school/prep levels who send their kids there.
Every team in USHL he has coached has made the playoffs(harder then you might think, especially so a few eyars back when less made it). Very close to USA hockey, key here being the ehad coach of the World Junior A Challenge. this is involved with BCHL etc, which means he fostered strong relationships there with them as well as the intl teams. keep in mind, these are all kids trying to go D 1, not major junior. He won the Gold both times he coached.
He also has recruited at the D 1 level and did very well.
He is the perfect canidate and if hired, will win.
Mark Carlson
Head Coach and General Manager
Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders' head coach and general manager since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids. He has coached the RoughRiders to the Clark Cup playoffs every year since the 2000-01 season. The RoughRiders won the Clark Cup in 2004-05 and the Anderson Cup in both 2004-05 and 2010-11. Carlson was also named the USHL Coach of the Year in both 2004-05 and 2010-11. Carlson also earned his 400th USHL victory in 2010-11.
Carlson has had the honor of serving as head coach for Team USA during the 2008 and 2009 World Junior A Challenge. Both years, Team USA won the Gold Medal. In 2009, Carlson was also recognized as the United States Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year.
Over (115) players who have skated for Carlson have received Division I scholarships, (20) have been selected in the National Hockey League Draft, (21) have signed NHL contracts, (30) are developing in the minor leagues and (9) have made their NHL debuts.
In addition to his hockey duties, Carlson became part owner of the RoughRiders in 2009.
A native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Carlson graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. While at Lowell, Carlson skated as a forward with the River Hawks. His on-ice talent was recognized even before he arrived in Lowell when he was selected in the 1987 National Hockey League draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After graduating from UML, Carlson spent one season as an assistant coach at Lawrenceville School before returning to Lowell to serve as an assistant to head coach Bruce Crowder. After helping the River Hawks to a berth in the 1996 NCAA tournament, Carlson spent another three seasons beside Crowder as an assistant at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also acted as recruiting coordinator. He earned a master's degree in education from N.U.
