The Red Wings made the official announcement on July 8. Blashill and Bill Peters will be assistant coaches on Mike Babcock’s coaching staff.
The Wings sought the search for two new assistant coaching positions after Paul McLean became head coach of the Ottawa Senators and Brad McCrimmon accepted a head coaching position in the Kontinental Hockey League.
“(Friday) is a very emotional day for me,” Blashill said in a statement released by Western Michigan University. “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream to coach in the NHL with the best organization in sports, the Detroit Red Wings. However, it is with extreme sadness that I step down as head coach of the Western Michigan Bronco hockey team.”
Blashill, who played hockey at Ferris from 1994-98, received Rookie of the Year in the 1994-95 season; gaining a 27-36-5 career goaltending mark. Graduating from FSU in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in finance, Blashill worked as assistant coach of the Bulldogs from 1998-01.
Tim Blashill, Jeff’s younger brother, is a pro shop/ program coordinator at FSU and varsity head coach of the Big Rapids High School boy’s ice hockey team.