ldd10

April 10th, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^

Cole was pretty awful at Hunstville, but that's a terrible gig.  Nonetheless, definite upgrade over Anastos.  He's an actual...coach.

stephenrjking

April 10th, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^

This is a fine hire. As WD pointed out, his UAH track record is fine. No idea how to evaluate his NTDP work. This seems unspectacular to me, but there's a decent chance that he works out, and he should certainly at least produce competent teams. 

As I said last year, Tom Anastos seems like a fine guy, but the fact that I need to point that out should suggest how unqualified he was as a college hockey coach. 

In other news, word from the Joe yesterday was that Red had met with Warde and apparently had made his decision EDIT: has not said decision has been made but was not publicly discussing it yet. Which honestly sounds more like something that would be said if he was departing, or at least that he hasn't actually made up his mind yet. You don't need a press conference or a special announcement to say that you're staying. 

misterzolo

April 10th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^

Great hire for Sparty. Credentials much stronger than CCHA Prez. He'll be much more knowledgable about kids from across the board, hard part comes when having to sell the program.

As for Red, sounds like we may get an answer today. According to reports from the Wings game last night (Red was in attenadance), he's already talked to Warde. Doesn't sound promising for those in the anti-Red camp. 

Charmandar

April 10th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

jesus christ is not the ant-Red camp. Why does it have to be pro vs. anti-Red? These bullshit sides people are picking is the reason the football team was in the wilderness for almost a decade. 

Skiptoomylou22

April 10th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^

That is a good hire for them. They were looking at Cole and George Gwozdecky but Gwozdecky opted to stay where he is at coaching hockey at Valor Christian High School in Colorado (home of the Fighting McCafreys).

I'm sure they would have liked someone with more experience but Cole is a fine hire for them. 50 years old, ties all over the state of Michigan, decent track record and you hope he can haul in some higher tier USNTDP players. Not to downplay the Cole hire at all but you literally can NOT get any worse than Anastos.

Team 101

April 10th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^

Reading between the lines with no inside information it sounds as though Red is going to step down subject to them working out the details - the details either being working out the terms of the deal with a replacement (more likely) or working out the terms of Red's departure (less likely).  If Red were definitely coming back, then there would be nothing holding back an announcement.  If things fall through with the proposed replacement, then can bring Red back for another year and say he decided not to retire.

Pepto Bismol

April 10th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^

That's what I thought as well, but apparently not. 

This article from 2012 says Berenson was extended through 15-16.  That would have been a 4-year deal ending last season. 

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/michigan-hockey-coach-red-berenson-believes-latest-contract-extension-will-be-his-last/

 

And then below I linked an Daily article that sounds like Manuel followed up that contract with an undefined, open-ended agreement.

 

* I could definitely be wrong. I learned everything I know about Berenson's contract history in the last 10 minutes via a single Google search.

Pepto Bismol

April 10th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/ice-hockey/manuel-pleased-berensons-decision-return

 

Found an article vaguely discussing it.  Manuel said a year ago that his new contract won't have a defined term.  It will be open-ended and they'll review on an annual basis. 

I don't know if there are more specific details than that available.

gholt6633

April 10th, 2017 at 1:12 PM ^

Sure you have.  He goes by Mork Dantoncolio until hockey season begins.  

MSU Hockey is a tough call.  You want them to suck, but I must say that when Red and Ron Mason had their programs humming, I saw some of the best hockey of my lifetime.

stephenrjking

April 10th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^

College hockey is unquestionably better when Michigan State is competent. After LSSU receded, UM-MSU was a huge rivalry, arguably the sport's best during the Mason trap years. They frequently sold out the Joe for the annual neutral site game there (did again just last year), fought fantastically bitter battles at their home arenas, and met in the CCHAs virtually every season in front of legions of loyal fans. There were, when I attended, thousands of people who were basically College season ticketholders at the Joe that had one team or another, sitting in the same place every game.

The two teams basically invented the outdoor hockey game craze, made Frozen Fours, and won Hobey Bakers. Both always sold out their home arenas (MSU had, at one point, a ridiculous sellout streak whose collapse wasn't inevitable) and sent players to the NHL.

Last season Michigan brought legions of their own fans to a not-so-enthusiastic Munn and absolutely ransacked MSU. I, and a number of other Michigan fans, had genuine pity for the program. It was absolutely pathetic.

I hope they get better. College hockey is better when MSU and UM are both great.

 

FauxMo

April 10th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^

I don't know anything about his coaching ability, but he has a fantastically hateable douchebag name. "Danton Cole" sounds like the preppy bad guy in an 80s movie filmed at a ski resort, the guy trying to get the filthy locals kicked off the mountain... 

YoBoMoLoHo

April 10th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^

My cousin played on a travel baseball team with both Danton Cole & John Smoltz. I believe my cousin was 1 year ahead of those 2 guys, they would have been high school juniors that spring/summer.... Smoltz was OK, but D Cole was a first class D-bag. And he had a serious case of the "I hate Michigan" fever that afflicts so many in mid-Michigan (Lansing) .... So, he lines up perfectly with Hollis's M.O.; Hire the guy that hates Michigan the most. Same reason he hired Anastos in the first place.