Avalanche make another massive change behind the bench
Photo credit: Zack Rawson / Triblive
The Colorado Avalanche continue to make changes to their coaching staff, as the team announced that Derek Army will join the AHL Colorado Eagles as an assistant coach.
Army will join newly appointed Eagles head coach Mark Letestu behind the bench in the upcoming season.
Colorado makes another big coaching change.
Army will be part of Letestu's staff, alongside current assistant Tim Branham, goaltending coach Matt Zabam and video coach Kim Weiss.
He most recently served as the head coach of the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, where he became the winningest coach in franchise history. Initially brought in as a midseason replacement during the 2020-21 campaign, he was officially named head coach of the 2021-22 season and remained in that role for the next four years.
"A native of North Kingstown, R.I., Army began his coaching career serving as an assistant with the ECHL's Worcester Railers over parts of the 2018-20 seasons. He joined the Nailers ahead of the 2020-21 campaign as an assistant before being promoted to interim head coach while the season was in progress. The Railers registered a 32-29-11 record in 2018-19 and fell five points shy of a playoff berth." -NHL.com
Here's what Avalanche assistant general manager Kevin McDonald had to say following Army's hiring...
"Derek enjoyed a very successful stint as a head coach in the ECHL, and we're excited to add him to our Eagles staff. Derek is a coach's son who has grown up around the game of hockey and has worked hard to move up in the coaching ranks. We look forward to having him on board with Mark and the rest of the coaching staff to help guide our AHL franchise.» -McDonald
A former forward, Army spent five seasons playing professional hockey in both the AHL and ECHL. From 2015 to 2018, he appeared in 97 regular season AHL games, tallying 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) while suiting up for the Portland Pirates, Ontario Reign, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Texas Stars, Milwaukee Admirals, and Tucson Roadrunners.
Army's father, Tim, is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. He previously spent six season with the Avalanche as both a video coach and assistant from 2011 to 2017. Derek also played under his father for one season at Providence College during the 2010-11 campaign.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 14 | 20 ANSWERS Avalanche make another massive change behind the bench Do you think Derek Army will someday become an NHL head coach? | ||
| yes | 15 | 75 % |
| no | 5 | 25 % |
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