Best coach in MN?

[hockeymgr09]

Jim Archibald 2 nd year as coach and look what he has done compared to last year.

[gophs16]

Chalk up another vote for Lechner.

Sure, he has a lot of talent to work with. But the Pioneers weren't expected to get out of the State semifinals 2 years ago, and they won it all, shutting down IMO the greatest team in the past few years in the state final. Then last year, his handling of the incident was superb, and he got his team to regroup, quiet the doubters with two huge OT sections wins, then came ever so close to knocking off the eventual state champs in the first round.

Once Randolph retires, I think Lechner should consider a move to the north.

Can't believe I'm voting for a Pioneer but I was very impressed with the way he handled that incident last year as well. Not many coaches have the balls to send away a few of their top players like he did. Props to Mr. Lechner

[thebookmark]

Joe Urick. Defensive coach for the Skippers, he flat out produces D1 players. Hes at 6 and counting.

[toptitty96]

Lindquist!

[wbmd]

Tom Simpson at White Bear Mariner the 1972-73 season through the 1982-83 season. He was also the head coach at White Bear from the 1983-84 season through the 1991-92 season when Mariner and White Bear went back to one high school.

[breakout]

Joe Urick. Defensive coach for the Skippers, he flat out produces D1 players. Hes at 6 and counting.

No doubt he is a good coach. However, several coaches have had multiple D1 players come out of their programs. Lets see Joe come away with a state title someday with the load of talent he has been blessed with.

Also, anyone that knows Minnetonka hockey understands that it isn't just one guy that gets those athletes to excel.

[D6Rocks]

Yani is doing a great job in Burnsville

That's Janne.
Yes he is doing a great job in Burnsville with the talent that he has available.
9 seniors on the team, no D1 prospects.

[observer]

Someone is obviously spending a lot of time with the D in Minnetonka. Outstanding D development. This is an area where a lot of programs could improve. A lot of forwards are interchangable but well developed D just jump out at you and can play a huge role in games. Having a dedicated D guy is an area where youth associations could improve as well.

D development = time well spent

[MrBoDangles]

It all started on the playgrounds for Moose and many of us who grew-up on the eastside. I've known him since we were kids & he's a good one. Many changes to the old neighborhood, but Moose has hung in & stayed true to who he is.

Moose IS the kind of guy we're looking for in this topic. The guys I know that played for him all rave about'm. Sounds like he was always there to help as a coach and as a friend. Heard he once deflected a speedboat (with his arms and chest) to protect some players on the boat he was in. He also would be talked about much more if he hadn't lost so much talent to the private sector.

[deliveryguy]

Although he isn't coaching high school anymore, I'd suggest Dave Dochniak, used to be at Harding when they still fielded a team. Be great to see him step into Stillwater, that is if Phil decides to head elsewhere.

[Cheese wagon driver]

I'd say Minnetonka's coach is at the top of the list. His youth association has to be given a ton of credit, for two reasons. 1- development in the bantam level and teaching fundamentals, skills progression and team building. 2- keeping the kids together and letting them get snared in by the claws of the private schools. (yes, I meant claws)
Hats off to them and good luck.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Although he isn't coaching high school anymore, I'd suggest Dave Dochniak, used to be at Harding when they still fielded a team. Be great to see him step into Stillwater, that is if Phil decides to head elsewhere.

I think Youngy helped write this one...

[can't skate a lick]

Everyone seems to be covering the metro coaches. I can't disagree with alot of the comments regarding the coaches mentioned. I do think that if your talking best in Minnesota, you need to throw Roy Nystrom from Albert Lea into the conversation. Year in and year out he manages to take whatever he has and make them competitive.

He doesn't have a great feeder program, nobody looks to transfer into Albert Lea, and the talent pool isn't very deep. This year is a perfect example. I doubt if anyone thought that Albert Lea would have any kind success this season. At the start off the year they didn't look good at all, but as the season has progressed, so has their play. I bet that come later this month they will be at the top of their game, and make another good playoff run.

When he has real good teams he doesn't feel the need to run it up against lesser teams, and he takes his teams north to increase the competition level. Just a quality coach for many years. I don't like Albert Lea at all, but I would have loved to have my kid play for him. To bad he liked Albert Lea so much.

[sportsguy29]

Even though they aren't having the best year they could have i'd go with Wes Bolin from Woodbury. The man single handedly turned that program into a contender and the things he does with the youth level is great. It will be interesting what will happen next year when he doesn't have the talent he has had.

Agreed. Classy, great with the kids, awesome teacher. Good pick.

[Northhcky]

part of the criteria for determining "the best coach" must include someone who can extract the most production out of what is given him as far as a pool of players.

Goldfish mentioned the number of quality players cut from Hill and I am sure Edina & E.P. have the same luxury. These coaches are handed an "A" list year in and year out and expected not to screw things up. How about a high school coach that has a much smaller talent pool to work with and produces winning teams time and again ?

Then you'd be talking about guys like Esse from Cloquet (until recently) and LaRoque from Grand Rapids.

Lee

Agreed. Another one that should be mentioned is Bruce Plante from Hermantown. Consistantly has winning teams all with homegrown talent and a small pool of players. Typically has only around 15 kids moving up from bantams a year.

[HappyHockeyFan]

I am going to throw a shout out to Chris Lonke of New Prague. He coached Simley, a very offense deficiant team to the Class A title game in I believe 2003. That team had a terrific goaltender but the rest of the success was all about hard work and team play. Now he is in New Prague and his team is again doing well, 13-5-1. I would not be surprised to see him get a good Class AA gig someday.

[breakout]

I'd say Minnetonka's coach is at the top of the list. His youth association has to be given a ton of credit, for two reasons. 1- development in the bantam level and teaching fundamentals, skills progression and team building. 2- keeping the kids together and letting them get snared in by the claws of the private schools. (yes, I meant claws)
Hats off to them and good luck.

He may be at the top of your list.

He has the most talented team in the state this year. What will coach do with that gift? IMO, if he doesn't make it to state ......... he under performed.

[Just_Another_Fan]

I'd say Minnetonka's coach is at the top of the list. His youth association has to be given a ton of credit, for two reasons. 1- development in the bantam level and teaching fundamentals, skills progression and team building. 2- keeping the kids together and letting them get snared in by the claws of the private schools. (yes, I meant claws)
Hats off to them and good luck.

He may be at the top of your list.

He has the most talented team in the state this year. What will coach do with that gift? IMO, if he doesn't make it to state ......... he under performed.

IMO if he doesn't WIN state he under performed. They have a very talented, hard working team. Throw in a great coach and you have a recipe for success.

[SEMinnHockeyNut]

Lorne Grosso - Mayo 600+ wins and he has never had his own youth program/feeder system. RYHA is slanted toward Century and Lourdes.
He also teaches kids how to be good people as they become adults.

Randy Schmitz - Lakeville North - never has that much talent but his teams always compete and are playoff ready.

Roy Nystrom - small population, gets the most out of every team

Keith Hendrickson - Virginia - small numbers, but always has skilled guys; plenty of D-I players and NHL draft picks.

Moose - Johnson, totally devoted to his kids and players rave about him.

Aus - Centennial - took a nothing program and made them into a great program.

[wbmd]

Even though they aren't having the best year they could have i'd go with Wes Bolin from Woodbury. The man single handedly turned that program into a contender and the things he does with the youth level is great. It will be interesting what will happen next year when he doesn't have the talent he has had.

Agreed. Classy, great with the kids, awesome teacher. Good pick.

If you only want to hear him talk about his hockey team throughout the whole class. Otherwise, not an awesome teacher.

[wbmd]

part of the criteria for determining "the best coach" must include someone who can extract the most production out of what is given him as far as a pool of players.

Goldfish mentioned the number of quality players cut from Hill and I am sure Edina & E.P. have the same luxury. These coaches are handed an "A" list year in and year out and expected not to screw things up. How about a high school coach that has a much smaller talent pool to work with and produces winning teams time and again ?

Then you'd be talking about guys like Esse from Cloquet (until recently) and LaRoque from Grand Rapids.

Lee

Agreed. Another one that should be mentioned is Bruce Plante from Hermantown. Consistantly has winning teams all with homegrown talent and a small pool of players. Typically has only around 15 kids moving up from bantams a year.

That's practically the entire bantam team.

[wbmd]

Tom Simpson at White Bear Mariner the 1972-73 season through the 1982-83 season. He was also the head coach at White Bear from the 1983-84 season through the 1991-92 season when Mariner and White Bear went back to one high school.

6+ conference champions.

7 section runners-up.

3 state tournament appearances.

1 state runner-up.

[yotesfan]

A name from the distant past, and one who very few people know of or heard of is Blakes Rod Anderson. He played with Herbie Brooks at St. Paul Johnson, played for Dartmouth then had a distinguished career coaching the Blake Bears to two or more State titles over a 20 year career. Yes, he is the younger brother of our ex-governor Wendy Anderson

[Just_Another_Fan]

Even though they aren't having the best year they could have i'd go with Wes Bolin from Woodbury. The man single handedly turned that program into a contender and the things he does with the youth level is great. It will be interesting what will happen next year when he doesn't have the talent he has had.

Agreed. Classy, great with the kids, awesome teacher. Good pick.

If you only want to hear him talk about his hockey team throughout the whole class. Otherwise, not an awesome teacher.

Actually he is a wonderful teacher. My son and daughter had him and loved him. And no he doesn't talk about his hockey team the whole time. There is a reason he is voted as an honor teacher by every graduating class woodbury has had while he has been there.

[Don Cherry]

I don't want this to lead to a negative thread, but my first two deserve recognition on this topic.

Tony Sarsland - Elk River, some very talented teams in his career

Russ Welch - South St. Paul/Hastings, some great teams at both schools

Cary Eades - Warroad, brought some great teams down to the Civic Center in March

Dave Morinville - Moorhead, I think he proved it with last years run