Head Coach

My experience follows my son’s career in Ice hockey growing up. Starting with the mite level, I was assistant coach in charge of the defense. I began coaching Geneva High School, a member of the ISHL, where I led the Vikings to a first place finish in the Red division despite having only 2 seniors, 2 juniors and the remainder of the player’s being sophomores and freshmen. Our team went from being the worst penalized team in the league to the team with the fewest penalties in the league.

After leaving Geneva High School I coached at Benet Academy where I led a young team to the state playoffs 2 years in a row. I left Benet to coach at Wheaton College for their club team for one year. During my career coaching High School I was chosen to coach 3 all-star teams and was a member of the ISHL coaches committee.

My early coaching experience was molded by Gordie Stafford, who currently coaches at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Fairbault MN, and was a draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers the same year as Wayne Gretzky. I had the privilege of coaching his son Drew Stafford who was s first round draft of the Buffalo Sabres and is currently playing Right Wing for the Sabres.

My philosophy is to play aggressively but to stay with a disciplined approach to the game. All of the teams I have coached have learned to minimize penalties and maximize playing the game at even strength or with a man advantage. I believe in a defensive game of hockey by protecting the defensive zone and looking for scoring opportunities only after you have controlled you own end of the ice.

I am a level 3 certified coach with USA Hockey and am a student of the game. I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University (1982) and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. I have an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management where I graduated in 2001. I have held several management positions with my employer Andersen Windows Inc. but currently serve as a sales representative in the Chicago market.

Hockey Experience

The key to my system of coaching is discipline. I believe in playing a disciplined game of hockey from both a positional and penalty standpoint. I believe in an aggressive, physical and disciplined game plan. I believe that defense is the foundation on which a team is built. I believe in the respect of teammates, opponents and officials and I believe this begins with leading by example. I stress teamwork as hockey is not an individual sport. Hockey is dynamic and changes need to be made throughout the game and it is the coaches responsibility to recognize when the game plan needs to change. I teach a "read and react" situational game plan that promotes playing smart hockey. A smart hockey player with talent will succeed better than a very talented player with no hockey smarts.

Wheaton College, Head Hockey Coach 2005-2006 Season

1. Despite having a poor record the team improved in their system approach to the game of hockey. This was confirmed by the athletes as well as the parents and the Wheaton Hockey administration. We played a very aggressive game but were overmatched in the league we participated in.

Benet Academy, Lisle, IL JV, Head coach 2003-2004 Seasons

1 Led the 2004 team to a 24-5-2 record and to the quarterfinals in the
Blackhawk Cup State tournament. Team finished 1st place in the
ISHL Red division but lost in the championship game
2 Chosen to coach in 3rd & 4th consecutive ISHL All Star game
3 Appointed to the ISHL coaches committee in 2003 and 2004

Geneva High School Varsity, Head Coach 2001 & 2002 Seasons

Led the Viking program to a combined record of 37-20-7.

Earned a Red Division state tournament berth in 2000-2001 season and advanced to the 2nd round.
o Earned a White division state tournament berth in 2002-2003 season and advanced to the 3rd round despite graduating 9 Seniors and fielding a team comprised of 13 freshmen and sophomore, 3 junior, and only 2 seniors athletes (both goalies were sophomores).
2 The Viking varsity program improved from being one of the highest penalized teams (1998 season) in the ISHL to being one of the fewest penalized teams in 2001 & 2002 seasons.
3 Led the Vikings to a 1st place finish in ISHL division 2000-2001 season
4 Chosen by ISHL as All-Star game coach, 2001 & 2002 seasons
5 4 Geneva hockey athletes were chosen to compete in the Blackhawk Cup tryouts in 2001-2002, 1 athlete was chosen to compete in 2002-2003.

Geneva High School JV, Asst. Coach 2000 Season

1 Served as defensive coach and finished the season with a 23-5-1 combined record.
2 2nd Place ISHL White Division

Waukesha Hockey Association Pee Wee AA 1997 Season

Defensive coach, team finished the season as the #2 ranked Pee Wee AA team in the state of Wisconsin

Petit National Selects, Squirt AAA 1995 Season

Assistant Defensive coach

Northern Illinois University, Club Team 1974 Season

Was a member of the NIU Club Hockey team for half of 1974 season. Left the team to focus on college studies.