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| Don Granato |
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
Former Avalanche coach Tony Granato would like to set the record straight. The current Pittsburgh Penguins assistant is not interested in the vacant University of Denver head hockey coaching position, but he said Monday night his younger brother Don is a candidate.
Don Granato, 45, is in his second year with the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), having coached the 18-under team this season, and DU has interest in him, his older brother said in a telephone conversation [read entire article].
52 comments:
Now that we've determined that all DU hockey coaches need to be ex-Badgers, this should really help us narrow the field of possibilities. I'm sure Marc Johnson is in the mix too.
If true, I guess this sheds some light on the "why". Definitely going on the cheap hiring the U18 coach
Fire Coombe, rehire Gwozdecky, get new blood on the Board, allow smoking on campus again, change the school name to Diversity University, apologize to Metro and allow them to call themselves Denver State, drop basketball, bring back Boone, lower tuition, get rid of Inclusive Excellence and replace it with "common sense" & Rebrand The Clarion "LetsGoDU"
Donny is a more experienced overall coach than Gwoz or Serratore was when they were hired by DU in the 1990s.
He would also know the US talent pool better than any other coach in the country, given he is the US U-18 coach and had to evaluate hundreds of top players for that team. That's what makes him a compelling candidate
He also has NHL, AHL, ECHL and USHL coaching experience. We haven't a coach with NHL coaching experience since Ralph Backstrom. And we've never had a coach with AHL experience.
I don't think this is a homerun hire, but it's at least a double and maybe a triple.
Yawn....
I like Don Granato more then Seth Appert or Derek Lalonde, if those are the other two candidates.
Seth has no experience outside of college hockey and has not set the world on fire at RPI.
And Derek has never been at a higher level than college hockey.
Assuming the two main players are Appert & Granato.
Appert: Can charm the skin off of a snake, Awesome recruiter, Popular with hockey alums, Record at RPI better than first glace, Beloved by RPI players & parents, Has strong ties to DU, Goaltender background means he doesn't have to hire goalie coach.
Granato: NHL background HUGE plus, Sconnie and family ties help recruiting and non-conference scheduling, USNDT background and contacts a huge plus [Look what Jeff Jackson did at ND w similar background], Name will help attract Avs supporters to Magness, NHL background will be plus in recruiting, Pro background should be advantage in-game decisions.
I know Don isn't his brother... but having a Granato as a head coach scares me.
Mainly because Tony was a terrible coach.
Are you sure that's not Toby from "The Office?"
Don and Tony Granato are Brothers, and former UW players. Along with former Badger Rob Granato. And Cammi Granato (Best USA women's player ever) is their sister. And she is married to former NHLer Ray Ferraro.
Between the two, I would prefer Seth Appert. Doesn't mean much, just more familiar with him, and feel like he would be a good fit for DU. I have no idea, though, as to whether the way things ended up with Gwoz eliminates Appert as a candidate, since I assume that Gwoz and Appert are pretty close
I have mixed feeling on Granato. He seems to move every several years, has been fired from some coaching jobs, and does not have college experience. I hate to keep harping on Greg Brown from Boston College but I would like him or someone like him. High energy, stable, great mentor, winning COLLEGE program. I would take Seth, too, ahead of Granato. It would be good to have a young, promising coach with college experience so he can grow with the program.
Greg Brown would be great, but I assume he's likely to replace Jerry York at BC in a few years, so I doubt he'd even consider the DU job...
One thing I like about Granato is that he probably has the best acccess/inisghts to the top US players on the US U18 team and in the talent pool.
Appert has much better hair.
Maine just fired 12-year coach Tim Whitehead
Gwozdecky goes to the top of Maine's list.
If he goes to Maine, I promise you he'll get every dollar he was asking from DU, which throws the market value argument out the window.
I think Gwozdecky ends up at Colorado College.
More power to Gwoz if he wants to go to CC, but I see very little chance of that happening. If Gwoz can't get the contract he wants at a school that has D-1 athletics as a priority, I don't see him going to a very small school that probably doesn't want to throw wads of cash at a hockey coach. I would not be surprised if Gwoz ends up at Maine, though.
Does Gwoz really want to live in Orono? Does Bonnie?
I think Gwoz should be in no ruch to pick his choice.
Once again....DENVER IS NOT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD! Gwoz is a hockey coach. He will adapt quite nicely to any city that has a quality hockey program. Your program was Gwoz. Face it. DU is screwed.
This is so fun to watch. DU is the laughing stock of colege hockey.
Implode verb 2. to collapse inward as if from external pressure, 3. to break down or fall apart from within
Nice 3-part post! Why the fascination with DU? I seriously cannot imagine having so little to do, that I visit and post regularly on another team's hockey blog. Wow!
Actually, Maine would be a pretty good gig. Change of pace on the east coast, good program. I read their attendance has fallen to 4,000 or so this year, but that place rocks when the team is doing well. Article says that they were paying Whitehead under $200,000--I wonder whether they could match what Gwoz is looking for.
Appert probably helps season ticket sales, Granato the walk-up types.
I'm looking forward to watcing DU and CC duke it out for last place in the NCHC.
watching
DU would kill for a regular 4000 crowd.
Wrong, slappy. DU averages 5,300 per game - 12th in the country - right there with BU and Michigan.
DU gets 5,200 per game, 6,000 per game during certain seasons, troll. Hmmm, suspicious timing with certain posts on here and on USCHO. Wonder what that means?
DG--back to anon posting, anyone?
Coming up tonight: ......and starting at defense for your Bridgeport Sound Tigers: Number 10..... Scotty "I'm really a harmless kitten on the inside" Mayfield!!
Good luck Scott ~ have fun
R u kidding? DG's ego is as large as his 2nd chin. No way does he stop anon posting.
He couldn't stand conversing with Timmy and old Pio exclusively.
Big lift for the Eagles RT @GJoyce9: Gaudreau, Matheson, Arnold, and Hayes all returning to BC next year http://t.co/9q46iT8CVE
Isn't it interesting how players stay and play for at least 3 years at the great schools?
Why do opposing fan bases get on here and troll your site?
Well it could be that whatever "fans" DU does have are the most arrogant douchebags in college hockey.
We like to rub it in your face when your program makes a fatal error like you just did. See we love to see you lose on and off the ice.
of those 5,300 that you "average," how many of them show up? I usually see a lot of red seats.
That's white out at Magness. They call it a crimson out, chairs are crimson colored and nobody shows up.
I guess that's awesome that people love to see DU lose. A feather in our cap, if you ask me. Here I thought we were just a small private school flying under the radar. I guess not, anymore. I also wonder how horrible those people who like to see DU lose felt in 2004 and 2005? That must have been absolutely excruciating for them. 2004 was pretty much magical. And 2005, cruising past both CC and North Dakota in one frozen four to win our 7th national title. Man, that was pretty sweet.
You was your head coach in 04 and 05, douchebag?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You should probably fire the head coach who has actually done something at DU since the 60's.
Maybe Cammie Granato would be a better fit.
I assume the hebephrenic who pronounced "DU the laughing stock of 'colege' hockey made the "decesion" to spell college with one "l" to make some sort of point. Don't know what that point would be, but it's reassuring to think nobody that stupid is posting here.
Yeah, I guess DU needs to take down the 2004 and 2005 banners because Gwozdeckey was fired. They should also take down the other five, because Coach Armstrong is no longer with us. And DU fans should cleanse their minds of those MOST happy memories from 2004 and 2005, because Gwozdecky is no longer the coach. It's like we never won back to back national championships. For that matter, we must never again think of Matt Carle, Paul Stastny, Connor James, Adam Berkhoel, Ryan Caldwell, and Peter Mannino, because they no longer play for DU. Damn, I need to stop wearing my 2004 and 2005 championship shirts, because Gwoz isn't at DU anymore. Man, this is complicated, can we please hire Gwoz back?! I wonder when the DU hater's team last won a title?
Anon 6:01 -
You miss the point. You fired the coach that was finally able to do something at DU since Armstrong. Fatal error. Gwoz was the only thing that was respected when it came to DU hockey. Their fan base certainly isn't respected. There are already rumors of more recruits bailing. Look forward to watching. Scott Owens looks good now?!?!
Most of the haters that troll here are North Dakota or Colorado College fans. The CC fans don't have a leg to stand on in comparison to DU (reference 1957.... end of discussion). The North Dakota fans - while more intrusive and bullyish - have been told repeatedly on this blog, to come back all full of piss and vinegar when they can boast 8 NCAA Championships; until such time - they should shut up; because by my calculations, 7 = 7.
DU has been historically excellent, they have been recently excellent, and they will be excellent again in the future. Oh no, we might have a downturn for a couple years! Shocking with a coaching change!!! Who the hell cares? DU has the facilities, the tradition, the money, and the will to recover from a setback. And in the meantime, there are plenty of great memories to carry the day, and 7 national title banners hanging in Magness. Who knows, we might even land a coach who can win the 8th title before Gwoz would have. This is the fun of sports--the unpredictability. The only REAL certainty, is that DU will win seven national titles for every one that CC wins. The rest is up in the air.
I hope you are right cause CC already has two.
CHN had a tweet:
"Source: Denver to invterview Seth Appert, Derek Lalonde this week...Don Granato also potentially in mix, but he's in Russia coaching U-17s."
Part of me is surprised that Appert and Lalonde would be interested after what "went down" with Gwoz. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as a lot of us are thinking.
Anon 7:04: yes, I was counting on us winning 7 more before CC wins another. Ha ha.
If the news is true about Appert and LaLonde, that's a good sign!
I've got to say I am warming big time to Appert. He understands the culture, has led his own program, runs a clean program and can recruit. Heck, his hair and clothes are almost as good as Gwoz. He could fit the profile of a 20 year coach and grow with the program. If Seth is coming in for an interview, good luck! He could be just what we need...
Plus, he is part of the family so I think there will be more patience if he has to rebuild.
6:10.....your insight into DU hockey is fantastic, homeboy. Let us know where to find your blog or website. Amazing stuff.
While you boys were busy discussing events that happened in 1957, this happened today with the students: https://www.facebook.com/BooneForOfficialMascot
Maybe we should help add to their fans?
Lalonde arrives today for his interview.
Granato declined to lead a team based on Peg's vision of mediocrity. Glad to see him stand up for his principles. Go USA!
Peg does not have a vision of mediocrity.
She has had some amazing success at DU since her arrival. In short, her teams win. DU is is the #1 non-foorball D-I school in the country in 4 ourt the last five years. No has done more with the kind of menu DU has, and it's even more impressive when you consider the onerous travel DU must do just to play.
In her tenure, DU has gone from a one trick pony to a three-headed monster in terms of men's sports. Many of DU's sports teams have become nationally-ranked and she has had outstanding success with coaching hires, graduation rates, GPA, lack of police trouble and community service.
She has alos been open and supportive of those of us who care about school spirit, and shes has done more than any predecessor to make ideas happen.
She is also elected to the NCAA leadership council, which shows that her peers respect her.
Does she have issues? Sure. The Gwoz firing was poor, and even though I think the Board had a lot to do with it, Peg also bears some responsibility for how it all went down.
Conference Affliation is also a mixed bag. I think she has played well with the bad hands she's been dealt, but we all wonder if there weren't some out of the box methods that might have led us to better outcomes.
All in all, I would giver her an A- as her teams are winners on the field, in the classroom and in the community. That's how I rank ADs. We are lucky to have her, Gwoz notwithstanding.
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