I felt it coming. Eight days after the latest second round playoffs loss, Ron Wilson was “relieved” of his coaching responsibilities.
General Manager Doug Wilson said the following: “Ron helped foster a new era in San Jose Sharks hockey with some record-setting regular season performances. However, ultimately we have decided that it is time for a different voice and a different approach to lead this team. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished as an organization but we feel that this team is capable of achieving greater success. I want to thank Ron for his level of commitment and desire to make our organization successful. Our entire organization wishes him well.”
In my opinion, I honestly didn’t buy any of the “We love Ron Wilson” rhetoric that the players were spewing left and right about how much they love Ronnie. It didn’t fool me. Were they honestly going to come out and be brutally honest to the media, especially about their head coach? This is hockey. They aren’t going to publicly rag on their coach.
Now, the search for a new head coach is on. I don’t see any of the assistant coaches stepping up as head coach. Rob Zettler came on board when Ron Wilson became the coach, so he will probably be gone. I also see Tim Hunter leaving, too. Usually when the head coach gets fired, the rest of the staff follows. They’ve got to clean house.
I’ve already stated my preferences for the new head coach. I want a tough guy as a coach. The type of guy who’s going to tell them they’re playing like crap when they are truly playing like crap and a coach who’s going to praise them when they’re playing well.
Now, the availability of some guys is going to play a role in who they would hire, but I would expect DW to hire a coach with plenty of experience.
Whoever replaces Ron Wilson would be inheriting a hell of a job, since there’s no real rebuilding involved. The new coach would be inheriting a very skilled hockey team. Just some tweaks need to be made here and there, but that’s really up to Doug Wilson and what he can pull off over the summer.
It’s been about four years under Ron Wilson, and even though he is a good coach, it was just time for a change. I’m sure losing in the second round three years in a row didn’t help his case.
What type of coach the organization is going to hire is a mystery to me, but I guess Sharks fans are going to have to eagerly await what Doug Wilson and his staff decide.
Do not panic, what we are seeing is the changing of the seasons, or coaches in this case. It’s natural for teams to go through different coaches, so this should be an exciting summer.
Hope the summer’s going well for all.
Danielle
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5 months ago
Ron, you're welcome in Denver! :D
from 5 months ago
Leave it to the Avs to pick up San Jose's Trash...Colorado could do better, and San Jose will do MUCH better without him.
from 5 months ago
I don't think anyone has been a bigger Wilson basher than I was. I was calling for him to be fired mid-season when the Sharks consistently were lackluster at home. I even called for him to be fired MID-SERIES against the Stars, thinking he had failed too greatly already and that it would shake up the team. So naturally I am glad he is gone.
However, other teams could do worse, and we are a better organization for having him. I understood firing Sutter even though I think he is also a good coach. In that case, it was time for a new voice, and it worked: the team turned things around almost instantly. When they were overachievers, he was the right guy.
It's like someone once said when asked who he would pick to coach his college basketball team: that depends, if it's talented, Mike Krzekrzewski (I'm part Polish and not even sure I spelled that right!), if not, Dick Bennett. Some guys can handle one group better than the other. Wilson could not consistently motivate this team in the last couple years, and he needed to go. But I think he could do well in other places.
4 months ago
Well, when Mike Keenan gets fired for the millionth time, the Sharks should try him out for a year. If he can't scare the players into skating all-out, no one can.
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