OT: WMU Hockey Coach to join Red Wings?
Blashill, who led the Broncos this past winter to their first NCAA tournament in 15 seasons and the CCHA tournament championship game for the first time in a quarter-century, confirmed Wednesday that he’s interviewed for one of the Red Wings’ vacant assistant coaching positions. “I am interviewing, but they have not made a decision and I have not made a decision yet,” Blashill said Wednesday afternoon. “I do expect to know at some point by the end of the week. ... I think they are narrowing in to make a decision. And, at that point, I will make a decision.”
“I think when Mike Babcock calls and Ken Holland calls and the Detroit Red Wings call, you certainly listen,” Blashill said. “Yeah, it’s a potential great opportunity. I love Western Michigan. This is a special place in college hockey. I wouldn’t be talking to any other colleges, that’s for sure. But obviously it’s the NHL and the Red Wings are what they are.” WMU director of athletics Kathy Beauregard said Wednesday afternoon that she understands why the Red Wings would be interested in Blashill and why Blashill would have trouble saying no to them. “It’s been Jeff’s dream from the day we hired him, he talked about his goal of getting to the NHL,” said Beauregard, who was with Blashill when he informed the team on Tuesday. “Very honestly, the opportunity came much more quickly than I think any of us expected.” http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2011/07/wmus_jeff_blashill_a_fin…
As a student at Western, Blashill and the team brought a lot of excitement. Other than the tailgating for football games you can't beat getting boozed up and going to watch some Bronco hockey, especially when they are winning games like him and the boys were doing. But can't blame the guy for chasing the dream, that's why we go to college, coaches, players and students a like. He is gonna be missed. Good to see a Western coach getting hype. Now time for a new football coach.
He's a hell of a coach. Turned Western around in just a couple years.
He definitely sees the writing on the wall with the CCHA, and is probably making a wise decision.
a couple of years to turn Western around. That was his first season, last year. He was definitely being kicked around for Red's replacement when all the Mel-->Tech rumors happened, then brought up again when Mel-->Tech actually happened.
Oh my mistake.....I thought this season was his second year.
So much for Western being that power that goes to that new hockey conference. Their future just went from bright to right back where they've been for decades.
There's a decent chance that Miami/Bowling Green/Western Michigan would go to said new super-conference as a package, with all of them being in the MAC and 3 of the 4 remaining D1 schools in the CCHA.
I was hoping Blashill would stick around and make Western decent. The CCHA could sure use another solid team right now
...this is happening.
JohnNiyo Western Michigan hockey coach Jeff Blashill resigns to take Red Wings asst coaching position. Wings set to announce Babcock's staff today.