UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

[drcobbmustgonow]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Here's a little something Sorenson:
http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_01_05&id=294014

--Dre

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

If successful how long will any new coach stick around?

This is an important question. And with the candidates that have been announced I think this goes to Dennis. He is a four year alumni who stayed in Anchorage after school and made his life here. None of the other candidates have as much history in the community and if any of the others had the success to get noticed they'd likely be interested in any offers to come their way. I highly doubt that Dennis would. If the UAA Head Coaching job is his dream job (and I'd assume it is at his age) then you've got a guy that could stay there for 20 years and not be demanding about salary and such things.

That said, the more important words in the question are "if" and "success". All these guys come with that question mark. Can they succeed. What does it take to succeed? I know passion and commitment are two parts of that equation (amongst others of course). Dennis' local roots give him a leg up on those attributes. He has demonstrated both of those clearly with regard to local hockey.

There can be no doubt that there are differences between coaching youth and high school etc and coaching D1 hockey. Those differences though are in a sense a lot of window dressing. The core attributes for success are identical. Knowing the game, identifying talent, getting the most out of the talent and utilizing the most effective systems and tactics to win games. Dennis certainly has all those with some 25 years of coaching and putting together comp teams and of course winning state championships at Dimond when South by all measures should win them just about every year.

Suze mentions that Anchorage high school hockey isn't equivalent to Minnesota high school hockey. That's true. High School hockey isn't the highest level of youth hockey in either place. A typical AA or AAA Bantam Comp team could probably beat a high school team in either place any Midget comp teams certainly would. Dennis has experience identifying local talent, getting them to play for his program and putting a successful product on the ice. These core attributes directly relate to what he'll be doing at UAA. It's not magic to spot a quality player, the trick is getting them to come play for you. If the Seawolves program wants to attract local players then either Sorenson or Hill are the best choices. And this idea of landing the best local players has been a widely recognized key piece of the puzzle for success at UAA especially over the last 20 years. There is a mechanism to move forward in gaining local players ... hire a guy with deep ties to the local hockey community. Hill will attract some and can make that happen but Dennis has more cachet in that department in my view.

Not having a background in an industry at a specific level when you have lotsa background at other levels can mean a fresh perspective. Dennis doesn't likely come with a network of recruiting contacts in juniors outside of Anchorage. But the program does and there can be little doubt that Dennis has relationships with hockey people all over. Again, it doesn't take a genius to go outside and spot a good player and then get an opportunity to give him your pitch. Any of the candidates are able to do the first part and all of them have the same question mark with regard to the 2nd. Dennis has a leg up on the local guys.

Does hiring Dennis come with some risk? Hiring any of these candidates comes with risk.

edit: And let's not forget that Dennis was the founding force behind the Aces original birth.

 

[Suze]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

This is an important question. And with the candidates that have been announced I think this goes to Dennis. He is a four year alumni who stayed in Anchorage after school and made his life here. None of the other candidates have as much history in the community and if any of the others had the success to get noticed they'd likely be interested in any offers to come their way. I highly doubt that Dennis would. If the UAA Head Coaching job is his dream job (and I'd assume it is at his age) then you've got a guy that could stay there for 20 years and not be demanding about salary and such things.

That said, the more important words in the question are "if" and "success". All these guys come with that question mark. Can they succeed. What does it take to succeed? I know passion and commitment are two parts of that equation (amongst others of course). Dennis' local roots give him a leg up on those attributes. He has demonstrated both of those clearly with regard to local hockey.

There can be no doubt that there are differences between coaching youth and high school etc and coaching D1 hockey. Those differences though are in a sense a lot of window dressing. The core attributes for success are identical. Knowing the game, identifying talent, getting the most out of the talent and utilizing the most effective systems and tactics to win games. Dennis certainly has all those with some 25 years of coaching and putting together comp teams and of course winning state championships at Dimond when South by all measures should win them just about every year.

Suze mentions that Anchorage high school hockey isn't equivalent to Minnesota high school hockey. That's true. High School hockey isn't the highest level of youth hockey in either place. A typical AA or AAA Bantam Comp team could probably beat a high school team in either place any Midget comp teams certainly would. Dennis has experience identifying local talent, getting them to play for his program and putting a successful product on the ice. These core attributes directly relate to what he'll be doing at UAA. It's not magic to spot a quality player, the trick is getting them to come play for you. If the Seawolves program wants to attract local players then either Sorenson or Hill are the best choices. And this idea of landing the best local players has been a widely recognized key piece of the puzzle for success at UAA especially over the last 20 years. There is a mechanism to move forward in gaining local players ... hire a guy with deep ties to the local hockey community. Hill will attract some and can make that happen but Dennis has more cachet in that department in my view.

Not having a background in an industry at a specific level when you have lotsa background at other levels can mean a fresh perspective. Dennis doesn't likely come with a network of recruiting contacts in juniors outside of Anchorage. But the program does and there can be little doubt that Dennis has relationships with hockey people all over. Again, it doesn't take a genius to go outside and spot a good player and then get an opportunity to give him your pitch. Any of the candidates are able to do the first part and all of them have the same question mark with regard to the 2nd. Dennis has a leg up on the local guys.

Does hiring Dennis come with some risk? Hiring any of these candidates comes with risk.

edit: And let's not forget that Dennis was the founding force behind the Aces original birth.

A few things you said don't exactly endear Dennis to me. First off, if he is SO connected to the local hockey community and the up and coming players, and if he is so passionate about UAA hockey, you would think that he might have had some influence in directing players to UAA. Yet his own son went elsewhere.

The fact that he was the founding force behind the Aces is supposed to work in his favor? Heck, most fans and coaches/former coaches will tell you that the success of the Aces is a major reason for the dismal attendance at UAA. No doubt some of the lack of fans is due to UAA's win-loss record, but they didn't have a winning record when the fans packed the joint every game and had a TV season ticket package with Prime Cable when the waiting list for season tickets was several years long.

The fact is, Dennis does not meet the requirements for the job. If he really wants a shot at being a head coach for a division I team, I think he should start as an assistant and work his way up like everyone else.

 

[AlaskaRox]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/index.aspx

So where exactly on your link are the numbers you quoted?

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

A few things you said don't exactly endear Dennis to me. First off, if he is SO connected to the local hockey community and the up and coming players, and if he is so passionate about UAA hockey, you would think that he might have had some influence in directing players to UAA. Yet his own son went elsewhere.

Shyiak is gone partially because he lost the connection to the local hockey community. It was that lost connection that caused players to go elsewhere. Even the son of a UAA coach in another sport went elsewhere (Lauwers) to play D1 hockey. The era of people from outside coming to Alaska and taking jobs from Alaskan's needs to end sometime. And the UAA Head Coaching position is as good as any to set a public example. If there is another local Alaskan applying for the job I'll support them as well; John Hill isn't an Alaskan ... Mike Corbett sure isn't ... Campbell Blair isn't either though he probably at least understands the need to wrangle the Alaskan kids, he hasn't accomplished that though.

"Requirements" or not Sorenson would be a good choice.

The fact that he was the founding force behind the Aces is supposed to work in his favor? Heck, most fans and coaches/former coaches will tell you that the success of the Aces is a major reason for the dismal attendance at UAA. No doubt some of the lack of fans is due to UAA's win-loss record, but they didn't have a winning record when the fans packed the joint every game and had a TV season ticket package with Prime Cable when the waiting list for season tickets was several years long.

Being instrumental in bringing the Aces to be is a negative for Dennis? Yeah, Ummm ... that's a non-sequitur. Of course it's a positive accomplishment in a hockey coaches resume. how many eventual ECHL Championship teams did John Hill found? Mike Corbett? Blair? The establishment of the Aces gave former collegiate players in Alaska an additional reason to stay in the community. They all coached and developed players in Anchorage when they might have otherwise chosen to make their life outside Alaska. Leaving Alaska to make your life is an easier choice than staying there. Well, Dennis stayed and he fostered development of hockey at every level in Anchorage. Those are certainly positives. Are they enough to overcome not meeting the "requirements"? I don't know. We'll see, won't we? I'm happy and proud to advocate for the one local guy that we know has applied.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

So where exactly on your link are the numbers you quoted?

as mmf would say........" If Alaska Hockey found it all by himself"......it can't be that hard

 

[Suze]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Being instrumental in bringing the Aces to be is a negative for Dennis? Yeah, Ummm ... that's a non-sequitur. Of course it's a positive accomplishment in a hockey coaches resume. how many eventual ECHL Championship teams did John Hill found? Mike Corbett? Blair?

Forming a men's league and being qualified to coach DI hockey are two completely different animals. You bring up some good points about his pulse on the hockey community, but I agree with JJ that he'd make a better assistant coach than a head coach ... at this point. Should that happen, there's no reason why he wouldn't be able to move up in time.

 

[drcobbmustgonow]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

This is an important question. And with the candidates that have been announced I think this goes to Dennis. He is a four year alumni who stayed in Anchorage after school and made his life here. None of the other candidates have as much history in the community and if any of the others had the success to get noticed they'd likely be interested in any offers to come their way. I highly doubt that Dennis would. If the UAA Head Coaching job is his dream job (and I'd assume it is at his age) then you've got a guy that could stay there for 20 years and not be demanding about salary and such things.

That said, the more important words in the question are "if" and "success". All these guys come with that question mark. Can they succeed. What does it take to succeed? I know passion and commitment are two parts of that equation (amongst others of course). Dennis' local roots give him a leg up on those attributes. He has demonstrated both of those clearly with regard to local hockey.

There can be no doubt that there are differences between coaching youth and high school etc and coaching D1 hockey. Those differences though are in a sense a lot of window dressing. The core attributes for success are identical. Knowing the game, identifying talent, getting the most out of the talent and utilizing the most effective systems and tactics to win games. Dennis certainly has all those with some 25 years of coaching and putting together comp teams and of course winning state championships at Dimond when South by all measures should win them just about every year.

Suze mentions that Anchorage high school hockey isn't equivalent to Minnesota high school hockey. That's true. High School hockey isn't the highest level of youth hockey in either place. A typical AA or AAA Bantam Comp team could probably beat a high school team in either place any Midget comp teams certainly would. Dennis has experience identifying local talent, getting them to play for his program and putting a successful product on the ice. These core attributes directly relate to what he'll be doing at UAA. It's not magic to spot a quality player, the trick is getting them to come play for you. If the Seawolves program wants to attract local players then either Sorenson or Hill are the best choices. And this idea of landing the best local players has been a widely recognized key piece of the puzzle for success at UAA especially over the last 20 years. There is a mechanism to move forward in gaining local players ... hire a guy with deep ties to the local hockey community. Hill will attract some and can make that happen but Dennis has more cachet in that department in my view.

Not having a background in an industry at a specific level when you have lotsa background at other levels can mean a fresh perspective. Dennis doesn't likely come with a network of recruiting contacts in juniors outside of Anchorage. But the program does and there can be little doubt that Dennis has relationships with hockey people all over. Again, it doesn't take a genius to go outside and spot a good player and then get an opportunity to give him your pitch. Any of the candidates are able to do the first part and all of them have the same question mark with regard to the 2nd. Dennis has a leg up on the local guys.

Does hiring Dennis come with some risk? Hiring any of these candidates comes with risk.

edit: And let's not forget that Dennis was the founding force behind the Aces original birth.

DD.. don't want to highjack the thread but need to correct you on your Minnesota high school hockey comment. Minnesota High School Hockey is the highest level of youth hockey in Minnesota. They refuse to buy into the AAA comp hockey model and stick to community base programs. Play where you live...the way it should be.

Although not a great example because it's a private school, but Benilde St. Margarets stuck it to Shattuck this year.
http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/western-college-hockey-recruiting-ncaa/2013/2/7/3962504/benilde-st-margarets-upsets-shattuck-st-marys-5-2

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

as mmf would say........" If Alaska Hockey found it all by himself"......it can't be that hard

AlaskaRox isn't the only person who can't find the numbers you quoted.
I find number of sports, number of participants, etc., however I don't see any money numbers.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

AlaskaRox isn't the only person who can't find the numbers you quoted.
I find number of sports, number of participants, etc., however I don't see any money numbers.
Any help would be appreciated.

You'r like a bunch of _airbanks villager's looking for the free and easy way out. Oh by the way more high tech wood stoves and wood boilers just for the asking but only if you live near or the outskirts of ground zero of the Chena Hill Blast Site I get all warm and fuzzy when I have am forced to over share my state money with the village with their own cardboard begging sign.

 

[UAA Seawolves Fan]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

AlaskaRox isn't the only person who can't find the numbers you quoted.
I find number of sports, number of participants, etc., however I don't see any money numbers.
Any help would be appreciated.

So where exactly on your link are the numbers you quoted?

Didn't take me long to find the numbers that were posted previously......this isn't Fairbanks where everything is spoon-fed to you

 

[UAA Seawolves Fan]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

I've been surprised that nobody has pointed out that the search committee consisted of four people which NO connection to hockey whatsoever.

From the ADN: "The four-man search committee is comprised of four UAA employees -- men's basketball coach Rusty Osborne, running coach Michael Friess, volleyball coach Chris Green and Dr. Stephen Strom, the athletic department's faculty representative."

Seems a little odd to me not to see any hockey-related people on there. No alumni/fans/representatives? Seems a bit fishy to me.

 

[seawolfpunk]

I've been surprised that nobody has pointed out that the search committee consisted of four people which NO connection to hockey whatsoever.

From the ADN: "The four-man search committee is comprised of four UAA employees -- men's basketball coach Rusty Osborne, running coach Michael Friess, volleyball coach Chris Green and Dr. Stephen Strom, the athletic department's faculty representative."

Seems a little odd to me not to see any hockey-related people on there. No alumni/fans/representatives? Seems a bit fishy to me.

If the alumni have any say in the matter, the job will go to John hill. Does everyone really want that?

 

[Jimjamesak]

I've been surprised that nobody has pointed out that the search committee consisted of four people which NO connection to hockey whatsoever.

From the ADN: "The four-man search committee is comprised of four UAA employees -- men's basketball coach Rusty Osborne, running coach Michael Friess, volleyball coach Chris Green and Dr. Stephen Strom, the athletic department's faculty representative."

Seems a little odd to me not to see any hockey-related people on there. No alumni/fans/representatives? Seems a bit fishy to me.

Well they are the coaches that actually win at UAA so that counts.

I guess.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Didn't take me long to find the numbers that were posted previously......this isn't Fairbanks where everything is spoon-fed to you

It must be your "superior intelligence" because it sure aint your personality.
And I'm not from fairbanks. Your "superior intelligence" probably just saw my moniker and assumed "Seawolf Fan" would be from fairbanks. What a guy.

 

[hockeyjunkie10]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Will you boys play nice!? Who's the next coach going to be?

 

[Jimjamesak]

It must be your "superior intelligence" because it sure aint your personality.
And I'm not from fairbanks. Your "superior intelligence" probably just saw my moniker and assumed "Seawolf Fan" would be from fairbanks. What a guy.

Take it easy Pope Francis, that was a shot at Fairbanks, not you.

 

[fairbanks hockey puck]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Remember Guy Gadowsky at UAF>>> Wasn't even the first choice...played collegiately at Colorado College, player/coach with WCHL Fresno Falcons...
actually got offered the UAF job after St Norbert(WI) coach accepted then rejected the job....Gadz didn't come to Fairbanks until August because of a committment to coach roller hockey in California...The CCHA higher ups, Ron Mason at Michigan State at the time, though the Nanooks were CRAZY to hire the guy wiith no NCAA coaching experience..Turned out to be the best hire ever as the hockey program got to the CCHA championships in Detroit.
And the Nanooks have been pretty good since...He has since moved onto Princeton and now given the keys to the multi million dollar project at Penn State...IT CAN HAPPEN!!!!

 

[cross cheque]

Re: UAA Seawolves offseason thread- time for change

Does the shipwreck known as UAA hockey have a coach yet or are they still interviewing alcoholics, the homeless, and squirt coaches?

 

[Jimjamesak]

Does the shipwreck known as UAA hockey have a coach yet or are they still interviewing alcoholics, the homeless, and squirt coaches?