Three-time WHL Coach of the Year Nachbaur records 700th win

Kelowna, B.C.- Welcome to the 700 club, Don Nachbaur.

The Wenatchee Wild bench boss and WHL great has become the third head coach in League history to record 700 regular season victories.

Nachbaur’s milestone came in a 5-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets on November 20, 2024.

History in the home province…Don Nachbaur becomes only the third coach in WHL history with 700 wins behind the bench!#PowerOfThePack pic.twitter.com/y2Hck9sbyj

— Wenatchee Wild (@WHLwild_) November 21, 2024

“It’s a large number, obviously, but it was never about me. It was about the players on the ice,” Nachbaur said postgame. “I just told the coaches, you need good hockey players to win games, and tonight I had a really good team.

I could say that about the first 100 (wins) that I got in Seattle, or I won number 500 in Spokane, but the players are the ones doing the work on the ice, and I appreciate their efforts. The number wouldn’t be there if I didn’t have good players.”

The Kitimat, B.C. product is the third Western Hockey League coach to hit the 700-win mark.

He’s also the third-winningest coach in WHL history- closing in on Ken Hodge (742) and Don Hay (750).

Nachbaur has spent three decades coaching at some of the highest levels in hockey, including 19 seasons as a Head Coach in the WHL’s U.S. Division.

He first stepped behind the bench for the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1994-95 before stints with the Tri-City Americans, Spokane Chiefs, and, now, the league’s newest franchise, the Wenatchee Wild.

Nachbaur won the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year with all three teams, in 1995, 2008 and 2011, respectively.

His three Coach of the Year titles are second only to Pat Ginnell, who earned the honour four times from 1970-1975.

Nachbaur and the Wild look to make it 701 wins as they visit the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, November 23 at 6:00 p.m. PST.