Published: September 09, 2009 09:54 am      

Johnstown Chiefs hire new coach

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — The Johnstown Chiefs’ newest coach has a diverse resume both on and off the ice.

Jeff Flanagan, a former Reading Royals assistant coach, officially will be named coach of the Chiefs on Wednesday, approximately one month prior to the opening of training camp for the team’s 22nd ECHL season.

“It’s pretty exciting to be named 'the guy' in Johnstown,” Flanagan said during a telephone interview today. “I’ve been in the league before. I know the league and the importance of the head coach job in the league with respect to getting guys call-ups to the American League and developing guys as players.

"Getting involved with (Chiefs owner) Neil Smith and working with (General Manager) Bill Bredin in Johnstown is exciting. Everybody is ready to go. We want to build for a championship in the near future.”

Flanagan played on a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship team in Guelph, Ontario, and he served in various coaching capacities in Canada, the United States, England and Italy.

The 33-year-old also has four college associate diplomas (in agriculture, horticulture, history and education) and is a professional singer/songwriter who released a critically acclaimed record, “Caught in the Rain,” in 2004 and had a top 5 single, “Hold On,” on the Canadian country music charts.

Flanagan will replace Ian Herbers, who was hired as an AHL assistant by the Milwaukee Admirals on Aug. 3. Herbers led the Chiefs to a 73-60-11 record with one playoff series win and was popular among his players and Johnstown fans. His sudden departure left Chiefs General Manager Bredin and owner Smith scrambling to find a coach late in the offseason.

“After an extensive search, we are confident that Jeff Flanagan is the right man to lead the Johnstown Chiefs,” Bredin said, when asked to confirm the hire. “We felt Jeff was the right combination of knowledge, passion and energy for our team. He is very familiar with the player personnel, not just on our roster but throughout the league.

“He is also well-connected and respected from the NHL down to the college and junior ranks, which will be an asset in recruiting. His background as a teacher is perfect for the development of young talent, and philosophically we are on the same page in terms of implementing a winning formula. He is also very aware and respectful of the history and tradition of hockey in Johnstown.”

Herbers had received commitments from 23 players prior to his leaving the team, and the Chiefs have announced 10 signings.

“I like our guys to play a tight defense. Along with good goaltending, defense is the basis for any good hockey team,” Flanagan said. “On the offensive end, I like to get a fourth man into the rush when possible, a defenseman jumping up and forechecking hard. I don’t want a system where a guy’s skill is taken away from him. I like to be fast and tough, which is essential, especially in the Northeast – where a lot of young, good players are trying to get to the American League. We need to be able to be fast and tough and capitalize on any chances we get.”

During the past season, Flanagan was head coach of HC Gardena in Italy. Gardena went 18-11-3 and advanced to the playoff semifinals. The team had a league-high 153 goals (4.8 a game).

His overseas coaching experience also includes time as an assistant with Basingstoke in the Elite Ice Hockey League in England in 2004-05.

He assisted Reading Royals head coach Karl Taylor during the 2006-07 season. The Royals went 32-33-7 and were eliminated from playoff contention by the Chiefs during a dramatic game at a packed Sovereign Center on the final day of the regular season.

Flanagan has been a coach and administrator at the amateur level. The Guelph native served as an associate coach at his alma mater, University of Guelph, in 2007-08.

In 2005-06 he was associate coach and assistant general manager for the Powell River Kings in the Junior A British Columbia Hockey League and associate director of hockey operations for the Powell River Minor Hockey Association.

“I spoke with (Chiefs forward) Ryan Del Monte this morning to get his idea on what his feelings are this year,” Flanagan said. “We’ve got a good goalie. We’ve got guys like Mike Knight, a very good defenseman. We’ve got a lot of younger guys who are going to be right on the cusp of being great ECHL players. Ian has done a good job of putting together a great core of guys. There are some things we may have to address in the next few weeks.

“I’ll have a chat with the veterans from last year and see exactly what we need to top ourselves up.”

Flanagan expects to be in Johnstown next week. His wife, Rachel, will remain in Guelph, where she is the head coach of the University of Guelph women’s hockey team.

“I have no doubt that Jeff will earn the respect of the players and fans, and will give the team a chance at immediate success,” Bredin said.