Ferris State athletics’ search for the hockey program’s new coach is picking up steam.
After compiling a list of candidates and working with search firm DHR Global, athletics will be moving to interview an unknown amount of candidates for the position in the next few weeks.
According to Ferris State athletic director Steve Brockelbank, athletics hopes to name the team’s seventh coach in program history by the end of March or early April.
“I would love to have it sometime [around] that window of the national championship game,” Brockelbank said. “Whether it be a little bit prior to the national championship game or certainly shortly thereafter.”
Brockelbank also stressed a balance in the search’s timeliness, believing they “owe it” to the student-athletes to get a new coach in quickly while also taking the time to make a good choice.
In NCAA DI hockey, details around contracts around the league’s 64 teams are hard to find. This is no different with the CCHA, as only four of the nine teams’ contract details for their head coach are easily accessible.
During the interview, Brockelbank couldn’t specify what a contract for the next head coach would look like, believing that whatever it is will be “appropriate” for Ferris State. However, an Indeed posting for the position suggests that the next bench boss will be looking at an agreement at or around $210,000 to $230,000.
To no surprise, the rumor mill is already abuzz with candidates who could be eyed for the job. According to sources familiar with the situation, some of the program’s alumni are being considered.
Names like Augustana assistant coach Taylor Nelson, University of Minnesota-Duluth assistant coach Cody Chupp, St. Thomas assistant coach Tommy Hill and Canisius head coach Trevor Large have come forward as possible replacements for the team’s long-time coach Bob Daniels.
All four names were former players for the Bulldogs, as all suited up for Daniels’ program between 2000 and 2012. There’s a case for each candidate outside of that they’ve played for Daniels.
Nelson served as an assistant coach with the program in 2014-15. Chupp, a Big Rapids native and Hill were captains at Ferris. Large has experience as a head coach with Canisius and is a Michigan native.
Daniels’ involvement in the search for his replacement has been rather limited. The program has only gone to Daniels for candidate suggestions, as his 33-year career nets him a vast knowledge of the coaching landscape. Brockelbank mentioned that they may “lean on” Daniels when they start narrowing down candidates.
There are a few things left for Ferris hockey before Daniels calls it a career and his replacement is named, including a playoff series against the St. Thomas Tommies. With athletics aiming to name a successor in around a month, the Torch will provide any updates it receives on the coaching search.