St. Cloud has a new coach??
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St. Cloud has a new coach??
Rumors are passing around that they have a new coach!!
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maroonhockey
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Women's hockey; Giesen offers Huskies a fresh start
By Kevin Allenspach kallenspach@stcloudtimes.com
Published: June 09. 2006 1:00AM
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The St. Cloud State women’s hockey program is getting a Goose.
At least that’s what school officials hope.
After eight years and two head coaches with a collective record 70 games under .500, the Huskies made a change again. Thursday, they promoted assistant Jeff “Goose” Giesen to replace Jason Lesteberg.
About noon, Giesen, 37, signed a four-year contract that will pay him about $60,000 annually in base salary. At 4:30 p.m., having only spoken face-to-face with a couple of players, he caught a flight to Calgary to go recruiting.
“I’d like to tell everybody that this is going to mean a fresh start,” Giesen said before he left. “A lot of things we do will be the same, because I believe Jason cleaned up this program and got it going in the right direction. And I learned a lot from him. But I want our players to be more accountable and better prepared. I guess that might be the biggest change, but anyone who knows me knows that my nature is to be aggressive. So I don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone.”
Not to Tricia Fast, who is entering her senior season.
“He’s a no-nonsense coach,” said Fast, a defender, whose younger sister, Laura, is a forward on the team. “He’ll tell you to your face what he thinks about the way you’re playing — whether that’s good or bad.
“I think he’ll have us playing more aggressive and I’ll bet we show a better work ethic,” she added. “We were hoping he’d get the job.”
Giesen, a 1993 St. Cloud State graduate who had been with the Huskies the past three seasons, was one of two finalists interviewed. The other was Heather Reinke, interim head coach at Niagara last season.
“Goose did very well throughout the interview process and we felt very good about his experience in the program and the continuity that would bring,” St. Cloud State athletic director Morris Kurtz said. “He’s been involved on and off the ice and we believe he’s done a good job in recruiting. Based on that and the feedback from the student-athletes, we feel he’s the one to take us where we want to go in women’s hockey.”
Tough start
The program started auspiciously in 1998, under the threat of a Title IX lawsuit. The Huskies hired Kerry Brodt Wethington over finalists Joy Woog and Stephanie Boyd. Brodt Wethington’s best season — and the only one with a winning record in school history — came in 2000-01, when St. Cloud State finished 17-16-2 overall, 12-10-2 in the WCHA. But the next year the program plummeted to 7-26-1 and was plagued by issues on and off the ice, leading to her resignation.
Lesteberg was hired after an initial search stalled because former SCSU men’s assistant Brett Petersen turned down the job. Lesteberg eventually was hired over Melody Davidson, who went on to coach the Canadian Olympic team, Dave Palmquist, one of the most successful prep coaches in Minnesota history, and Jodi McKenna, an assistant at St. Lawrence, which made the Frozen Four last season. Lesteberg’s best season was last year, when a 15-7-0 run between Dec. 1 and the WCHA playoff semifinals was the hottest stretch in school history. He finished 45-87-6 (.349).
Brodt Wethington was 45-73-8 (.389), with her first season as an independent before the women’s WCHA was formed.
Johnnie influence
Giesen, who is from Blaine, learned much of his approach from St. John’s head coach John Harrington, for whom Giesen was an assistant from 1992-98, then promoted to associate head coach from 1998-2003. He helped the Johnnies win three MIAC titles and make four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Giesen and his wife, Karla, had their first child, a daughter (Delaney) last October. It has changed his life, although not in a way you might expect.
“I didn’t make that much of a change going from coaching men to coaching women,” Giesen said. “My hockey approach is the same, and you do the same drills. I think the difference is in the interpersonal relationships. Having (Delaney) and being in the women’s game, I hope it’s going to me an opportunity to connect with her. When she gets a little older, she can go on a road trip and I won’t have to worry about putting earmuffs on her when she’s around the players. (Wisconsin head coach) Mark Johnson told me his two daughters have been stick girls for the team. One is playing hockey, the other tried it and went on to something else. But it was a good experience, and one he wouldn’t have had with them like he did with his boys when he was coaching men.”
Top recruiter
Part of the reason Giesen was promoted has been his role in a successful incoming recruiting class. Forwards Holly Roberts, Caitlin Hogan and Megan Pezon each were among the 10 Ms. Hockey finalists, with Roberts and Pezon making the cut to the final five. Defenders Kelly Meierhofer, who is from Sauk Rapids, Danielle Hirsch, whose brother, Tyler, played for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team, and Jeneca Fredheim and forward Katie Kemmerer round out the class.
“We need someone to keep the program moving forward,” said junior defender Stacy Dey, who was recruited by Giesen. “Getting the best players and making them feel comfortable here is an important part of that. (Giesen) doesn’t play games with you, and that’s all you can ask when you’re being recruited. You don’t want to feel like you’re lied to.”
After he returns from his recruiting trip, Giesen’s next task will be to hire an assistant to fill his previous position. Assistant coach Laura Slominski already has been signed to a second consecutive one-year emergency-hire contract.
“Laura meant a lot to us last year, too,” Fast said. “If Goose was getting too carried away, she was always there to build you up if you started feeling down.”
His words might not always sound like it, but that’s what Giesen has in mind for the program.
By Kevin Allenspach kallenspach@stcloudtimes.com
Published: June 09. 2006 1:00AM
STORY CHAT (1) REGISTER HERE NOW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The St. Cloud State women’s hockey program is getting a Goose.
At least that’s what school officials hope.
After eight years and two head coaches with a collective record 70 games under .500, the Huskies made a change again. Thursday, they promoted assistant Jeff “Goose” Giesen to replace Jason Lesteberg.
About noon, Giesen, 37, signed a four-year contract that will pay him about $60,000 annually in base salary. At 4:30 p.m., having only spoken face-to-face with a couple of players, he caught a flight to Calgary to go recruiting.
“I’d like to tell everybody that this is going to mean a fresh start,” Giesen said before he left. “A lot of things we do will be the same, because I believe Jason cleaned up this program and got it going in the right direction. And I learned a lot from him. But I want our players to be more accountable and better prepared. I guess that might be the biggest change, but anyone who knows me knows that my nature is to be aggressive. So I don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone.”
Not to Tricia Fast, who is entering her senior season.
“He’s a no-nonsense coach,” said Fast, a defender, whose younger sister, Laura, is a forward on the team. “He’ll tell you to your face what he thinks about the way you’re playing — whether that’s good or bad.
“I think he’ll have us playing more aggressive and I’ll bet we show a better work ethic,” she added. “We were hoping he’d get the job.”
Giesen, a 1993 St. Cloud State graduate who had been with the Huskies the past three seasons, was one of two finalists interviewed. The other was Heather Reinke, interim head coach at Niagara last season.
“Goose did very well throughout the interview process and we felt very good about his experience in the program and the continuity that would bring,” St. Cloud State athletic director Morris Kurtz said. “He’s been involved on and off the ice and we believe he’s done a good job in recruiting. Based on that and the feedback from the student-athletes, we feel he’s the one to take us where we want to go in women’s hockey.”
Tough start
The program started auspiciously in 1998, under the threat of a Title IX lawsuit. The Huskies hired Kerry Brodt Wethington over finalists Joy Woog and Stephanie Boyd. Brodt Wethington’s best season — and the only one with a winning record in school history — came in 2000-01, when St. Cloud State finished 17-16-2 overall, 12-10-2 in the WCHA. But the next year the program plummeted to 7-26-1 and was plagued by issues on and off the ice, leading to her resignation.
Lesteberg was hired after an initial search stalled because former SCSU men’s assistant Brett Petersen turned down the job. Lesteberg eventually was hired over Melody Davidson, who went on to coach the Canadian Olympic team, Dave Palmquist, one of the most successful prep coaches in Minnesota history, and Jodi McKenna, an assistant at St. Lawrence, which made the Frozen Four last season. Lesteberg’s best season was last year, when a 15-7-0 run between Dec. 1 and the WCHA playoff semifinals was the hottest stretch in school history. He finished 45-87-6 (.349).
Brodt Wethington was 45-73-8 (.389), with her first season as an independent before the women’s WCHA was formed.
Johnnie influence
Giesen, who is from Blaine, learned much of his approach from St. John’s head coach John Harrington, for whom Giesen was an assistant from 1992-98, then promoted to associate head coach from 1998-2003. He helped the Johnnies win three MIAC titles and make four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Giesen and his wife, Karla, had their first child, a daughter (Delaney) last October. It has changed his life, although not in a way you might expect.
“I didn’t make that much of a change going from coaching men to coaching women,” Giesen said. “My hockey approach is the same, and you do the same drills. I think the difference is in the interpersonal relationships. Having (Delaney) and being in the women’s game, I hope it’s going to me an opportunity to connect with her. When she gets a little older, she can go on a road trip and I won’t have to worry about putting earmuffs on her when she’s around the players. (Wisconsin head coach) Mark Johnson told me his two daughters have been stick girls for the team. One is playing hockey, the other tried it and went on to something else. But it was a good experience, and one he wouldn’t have had with them like he did with his boys when he was coaching men.”
Top recruiter
Part of the reason Giesen was promoted has been his role in a successful incoming recruiting class. Forwards Holly Roberts, Caitlin Hogan and Megan Pezon each were among the 10 Ms. Hockey finalists, with Roberts and Pezon making the cut to the final five. Defenders Kelly Meierhofer, who is from Sauk Rapids, Danielle Hirsch, whose brother, Tyler, played for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team, and Jeneca Fredheim and forward Katie Kemmerer round out the class.
“We need someone to keep the program moving forward,” said junior defender Stacy Dey, who was recruited by Giesen. “Getting the best players and making them feel comfortable here is an important part of that. (Giesen) doesn’t play games with you, and that’s all you can ask when you’re being recruited. You don’t want to feel like you’re lied to.”
After he returns from his recruiting trip, Giesen’s next task will be to hire an assistant to fill his previous position. Assistant coach Laura Slominski already has been signed to a second consecutive one-year emergency-hire contract.
“Laura meant a lot to us last year, too,” Fast said. “If Goose was getting too carried away, she was always there to build you up if you started feeling down.”
His words might not always sound like it, but that’s what Giesen has in mind for the program.
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ghshockeyfan
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Great selection, and good decision to keep the core of the staff around I believe. Hopefully the momentum that the team gained at the end of 05-06 can be carried over to next season, and with the recruiting class they ahve they shoudl have no problem in doing so.
New Coach @ SCSU
I think "Goose" was the right choice. A few had asked about assistants after the announcement. I had hoped they would, and think it's also a good move to have retained Slominski as well.
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ghshockeyfan
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Re: New Coach @ SCSU
The truth is that both were/are bound to be top head D1 coaches. they have a great staff, and are smart to have kept it mainly intact. The article points to the collaboration between Goose & Slomo, and keeping that intact is critical too I think. Just like a good cop needs a bad cop, etc. In that they have built obvious rapport with the kids is critical too in general. Having to start from scratch would not be good in these respects. I also hope that they make these coaches permanent and not interim or short term, etc. With the recruiting class they have coming in, the team seemingly backing the coaching decisions, etc. this has the potential to be a very successful squad the next few years and beyond. I actually thought they finished very well last year, and would have liked to have seen all be status quo staff wise, but this is the next best thing I guess.brookyone wrote:I think "Goose" was the right choice. A few had asked about assistants after the announcement. I had hoped they would, and think it's also a good move to have retained Slominski as well.
Recruiting
The flight to Calgary for the purpose of recruiting was surprising. From my count Goose has 15 forwards and 7 defenseman. He must be looking to sign a defenseman in Calgary. Or has anyone heard of any departures from the team?
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ghshockeyfan
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Re: Recruiting
Or he may be looking well beyond next season and 1-4 years into the future re: this trip?icnet01 wrote:The flight to Calgary for the purpose of recruiting was surprising. From my count Goose has 15 forwards and 7 defenseman. He must be looking to sign a defenseman in Calgary. Or has anyone heard of any departures from the team?
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ghshockeyfan
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The Canadian National Women's Team Conditioning Camp is in Calgary, AB the next 10 days?icnet01 wrote:doubtful as there would be no hockey being played at this time of year so would lead me to believe he is going to speak to someone in Calgary
On the other side of the continent is the Canadian National Women's Team Conditioning Camp ("86 born and younger) is in Kitchener, ON starting today?
There are also regular tourneys up there all summer long. We send some MN teams to them. Many college coaches attend.
My guess would be that most, if not all, recruits are pretty well finalized for this coming year?
I would think they would be looking for future season recruiting classes?
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maroonhockey
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ghshockeyfan
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If the NCAA upholds this, that is awful. To participate in an event to raise $ for a worthy cause is noble. Sounds like a misunderstanding. I hope the NCAA can give a more appropriate penalty than a full year suspension.maroonhockey wrote:rumor has it that Nixon and McCarthy have sustained a one year suspension for playing in the Stick it to Cancer Tourney, as they were both still in College. So, maybe Goose is looking for 2 more forwards.