How George Gwozdecky went from Lightning bench to high school coach
The career trajectory for George Gwozdecky is, shall we say, a little peculiar.
Gwozdecky coached the Miami (OH) Redhawks from 1989-94 before taking over the University of Denver Pioneers from 1994-2013. He won two national championships with the latter, becoming the only person in NCAA history to win titles as a player (Wisconsin, 1977), as an assistant coach (Michigan State, 1986) and as a head coach.
He was fired after 19 seasons, and turned down a chance to lead the NCAA program at Alabama-Huntsville. Speculation was that he would sit out 2013-14 and wait for another NCAA gig; and then he was hired by Jon Cooper to join his bench with the Tampa Bay Lightning, running the team’s forwards and power play.
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After two years with Tampa, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final last season, Gwozdecky resigned from the Lightning. "I have fulfilled my obligation with the Tampa Bay Lightning and I am going to take some time away to consider my next career step,” he said, rather officiously.
Speculation, again, was that he was going back to the NCAA ranks. Instead, Gwozdecky made the oddest of career moves: From the NHL bench to high school head coach, taking a job with Valor Christian outside of Denver.
What the what?
According to David Ramsey of The Gazette, Gwozdecky was in talks with Valor in support of former DU assistant coach Steve Miller’s candidacy for their head coaching job. Miller instead became director of hockey at Air Force. Gwozdecky decided to make himself a candidate for the job, called to see if the job was available and was hired at Valor.
From the Gazette:
Gwozdecky laughs as he considers the reaction to his move to high school hockey. Yes, he says, many of his friends were stunned.
"You just don't think of me coaching anywhere other than college and pros," he says. "That was my comfort zone and my fit for 32 years. Certainly this is my new direction, if you will."
It’s hard to imagine this as anything but a rest stop on the way back to the NCAA. After all, Mike Eaves is already in the “FIRE ALL ASSISTANTS” phase of his life cycle at Wisconsin; say, didn’t Gwozdecky attend that school?
From the Gazette, here’s Gwozdecky on his Valor tenure:
“I thought DU was going to be my last career move. I have no idea. I don't have the same energy as I had 20 years ago, but through the experiences I have had I know more than I knew 20 years ago. I think I've got at least 10 more good years in front of me.”
College to the NHL to high school to …
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