Reading Royals coach Kirk MacDonald resigns [updated]
Jun. 13—Kirk MacDonald has resigned as the Reading Royals head coach and director of hockey operations, the team announced Monday.
"It has been an honor to be the head coach of the Royals for the past five seasons," MacDonald said in a statement released by the team. "I need to thank all the Royals players for their hard work and effort while wearing the Royals jersey."
The move comes just weeks after MacDonald guided Reading to the ECHL North Division and Eastern Conference regular season titles and to the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. MacDonald has accepted the position as head coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, one of the top junior leagues in North America.
"It's an opportunity to work in a different league, a league where you're coaching more guys that are NHL prospects," MacDonald said in a telephone interview with the Reading Eagle. "It's arguably the best junior league in the world (and) one of the best organizations in that league."
The USHL is the top junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The 16-team league is rich with prospects who go on to play in the NCAA, AHL and/or NHL.
"It was opportunity to stay a head coach," MacDonald said. "For me that was also important to prove I can win games at another level and not get the label of 'just another ECHL coach.' "
MacDonald served as an assistant under former coach Larry Courville from July 2014 until April 3, 2017, when he was named interim head coach. MacDonald guided Reading through the final three games of the 2016-17 regular season and into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round.
MacDonald was promoted from interim head coach to head coach on May 24, 2017, and served as the Royals' head coach for the next four seasons. He led Reading to appearances in the 2018 and 2022 Kelly Cup playoffs and to a berth in the 2020 postseason, which was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reading opted out of the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19.
"It's still tough to leave here," MacDonald said. "It's been awesome and I appreciate the opportunities and everything I've gotten. I just felt it was the right time."
Including his time as interim coach, MacDonald guided Reading to a 158-86-34 regular season record and three playoff appearances. The Royals won the ECHL North Division with a 45-17-9 record and 99 points this season, tying a franchise record for points in a season.
"He's always put a good team on the ice and worked hard to do so," general manager David Farrar said. "He's been a big piece of the Royals history over the last 20 years as a player and a coach."
Prior to serving as the seventh head coach in franchise history, MacDonald played for the Royals during the 2008-09 and 2012-13 seasons. As an assistant captain, he helped lead Reading to a victory in the 2013 Kelly Cup finals, the only league title in the team's 21-year history.
He had 37 goals and 40 assists in 91 regular season games with the Royals. He also had four goals and eight assists in 22 playoff games in 2013.
"He's been a professional the whole time," Farrar said. "(We) wish him and his family well."
Reading immediately will begin the search for its next head coach, who will be the eighth in franchise history. According to Farrar, the Royals will look to find someone who is dedicated to achieving success on the ice.
"We want somebody who can come in and win," Farrar said. "(Someone who can) come in and put a team together that can be competitive and win right away."
