Wiseman In, Powers Out
Wiseman will stay behind Michigan's bench
Per George Sipple of the Detroit News, Brian Wiseman will continue in his capacity as a Michigan assistant coach under Mel Pearson. Billy Powers will not. FWIW, I've heard from various sources that Wiseman was doing yeoman work in a difficult recruiting situation the last few years; he's probably a good guy to keep around. I have not confirmed but suspect that he was the driving force behind Michigan's brilliant 2015-16 umbrella power play, as well.
Sipple has a list of potential second assistants for Pearson:
Some of the names in the mix to be next @umichhockey assistant are Chris Tamer, Bill Muckalt, Mike Komisarek, John Madden.
— George Sipple (@GeorgeSipple) May 5, 2017
Madden is unlikely since he is an AHL coach who has a good shot at moving up to the NHL ranks in the near future. As previously mentioned, Muckalt is a USHL head coach/GM; I have no idea whether being an assistant at Michigan is a move up or down in terms of status. Some guy who seems to know what he's talking about on the USCHO message boards asserted that someone in Muckalt's role is probably pulling down 90-100k a year; Powers made 138k this year. Michigan can offer a major salary bump for him. Sipple had previously asserted that unless Muckalt was the new head coach at Tech he expected him behind Michigan's bench.
Tamer and Komisarek are both former Michigan defensemen who had long NHL careers. Tamer is currently an assistant for the USA women's team. Komisarek just retired from the NHL in 2014 and returned to Michigan to complete his undergrad degree; he was working with the team as a student assistant. Neither has the resume of Muckalt but both are very familiar with Pearson.
I'd imagine Steve Shields would stay on as the volunteer goalie coach since he goes way back with Mel and did great work this year with not one not two but three goalies.
As for Powers, this would seem to be a natural fit:
Billy Powers may be in the mix for vacant @USAHockeyNTDP head coach position. 1/2
— George Sipple (@GeorgeSipple) May 5, 2017
That might not be as much of a recruiting boon as it seems. Most NTDP guys are already committed to a college by the time they join the program. Having Danton Cole around certainly didn't help MSU's recruiting efforts. But it can't hurt.
Not sure how much he knows about hockey, but the dude can definitely coach.
ed: beaten to the punch
on either Tamer of Komisarek.
I'm really surprised Pearson didn't keep Powers on. I was just sure that the 20+ years of working together would've made it extremely likely Powers was retained, even if Mel knew he wasn't the best candidate. I would call this an encouraging start for Mel.
Thanks for your service Billy. Best wishes
Good potential hires. If we have to open the pocketbook a little wider to get who we want, let's do it. There's no reason not to have top tier coaching and staff through out the hockey program at Michigan.
We could admit 5 more out-of-state kids paying full tuition each year, that would pay for a $200K assistant hockey coach.
It's very strange to me that these people make normal person salaries.
Getting the '93 band back together!
Excited there's talk of Tamer coming home. He'd certainly add some toughness to the program simply by osmosis.
NCAA limits the size of coaching staffs.
Clearly so IM Broomball can happen at hours other than 11 pm to 3 am
That's not really true. All three Big Ten schools with women's hockey teams have separate ice sheets for men & women. At Wisconsin & Minnesota the men's and women's rinks are right next door to each other. Ohio State women play in the old men's arena.
Let's just say that a big part of why Michigan doesn't have women's hockey is that the men's team didn't feel it could share the arena with another primary tenant. Perhaps that will change soon with the changes at the top of the men's program.
Minnesota does not switch back and forth between ice and hardwood. The other two do. Mariucci is men's hockey only. Ridder Arena is women's hockey only.
They do not share.
tru wrong meli
He hosts a fishing show in Canada.
Also, his son was a fifth round draft pick in the WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday. He'll be a kid that's on Michigan's radar.
To acquire a Russian hockey coach. Inter alia, it's tough for the other team to beat you when they are experiencing the effects of Polonium 210. Plus a glowing puck is easier to spot in the corners.
Comments