Spotlight turns to search for new coach
The Christmas break will not be a time to sit back and relax for Guelph Storm general manager Mike Kelly.
After wrapping up the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule with a wild and wooly 7-5 win over the Kitchener Rangers Saturday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre, Kelly’s focus now shifts to hiring a new coach.
Kelly coached the team’s three games since firing Jason Brooks but has no desire to stay behind the bench on a permanent basis.
“I have interviews starting at 9 a.m. (Sunday),” Kelly said. “There’s five more on Monday and some beyond that by phone.”
Kelly said he really didn’t have to put together a list of potential coaches, “the list came to me.”
Asked if he was surprised by how willing applicants were to travel to Guelph for an interview, Kelly shook his head.
“It’s amazing how far people will travel by car to come to Guelph and talk about the Guelph Storm,” he said just a little facetiously.
Kelly was asked if the team’s next coach will have previous experience as a head coach in the OHL.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Or, substituting that, professional experience. It is highly unlikely that I would take anyone without at least major junior experience.”
Kelly said the current assistant coaches will all stay in place until at least the end of the season.
Kelly also said not to expect any big trades from the Storm before the Jan. 10 deadline.
