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Who are the best High School Coaches?

Of current coaches...Greg Trebil. Has had some tough luck the last couple seasons but have seen him makes some adjustments in the big games that have stymied the opposition. People will say he always has the horses but you have to know how to ride those horses.

Some of the Ram Faithful may disagree but I'll also say Scott Oliver for a couple reasons...he's grown as a HS coach after figuring it would be a breeze after coaching at the college ranks. He has done a great job of utilizing his assistants talents (Bill Lund-offensive and special teams and the Byfuglien that helped with the D) and giving them credit. He's made the tough cuts and some unpopular decisions for what turned out for the team and the individuals positively for the most part. He may not be the most popular guy in Roseau but they are hanging another banner at the Memorial and if the boys stick around it is possible they repeat and possibly three-peat.

If your talking about all time best coaches I'd say Ikola for Edina.

Looking at what he's done the past 2 years, you'd have to put Bruce LaRoque up there. If he leads this year's version of the Indians to the Section Semis or beyond, he'll surely have to be considered one of the best.

Wally Chapman has to be in the top two or three. He's been there 10 plus years, won two State tourneys and continues to attract some of the top talent in the state. He probably is a big reason guys like Mueller, Wheeler, Fulton, Dee, Adams, (all drafted) etc... have chosen Breck over all the other options. And on top of that, he appears to be a great guy.

Tavis McMillan and Troy Ward, both all-time undefeated in regular season games.

Bub wrote:Tavis McMillan and Troy Ward, both all-time undefeated in regular season games.

I thought somebody said that Ward bailed already. If that's true, I would view him as winless and probably not one of the state's best!

"UNDERCOVER HOCKEY LOVER" has his head under the covers!!!! You and Stevie Wonder must watch the games together.

Ike has my vote. How many kids did he send to the D1 and the NHL?

Of course, Sats from Bloomington would be up there. Nice run in the 80s. Like Oliver, he surrounded himself with talented Assistant Coaches. Trebil being one of them.

hockeyfantasy wrote:"UNDERCOVER HOCKEY LOVER" has his head under the covers!!!! You and Stevie Wonder must watch the games together.

Curious...for CURRENT coaches which one is wrong or are both. And IF they are wrong let's hear why. Ask Morinville how good Trebil is. Both have more banners hanging from the rafters than someone's....fantasy.

I would have to go with Larry Ross of International Falls.

Great coach with a lot of great teams.

Was never specified as to past or present. I've given my current, here's the past. Ross, Ikola, Almquist, Saterdalen and Eades. Hard to pick just one because of the era differences and style differences. There's around 25 state titles and over a dozen Runner-Ups (1 class & 2 classes) between these guys, covers the whole history and love 'em or hate 'em, they're all WINNERS.

Trebil, Larry Ross, Ikola are three that stick out in my mind.

Tim Sager at WBL

goldp wrote:Tim Sager at WBL

Everyone loves a comedian, right WBMD?

Seriously, year after year with one of the top five youth programs in the state, what has he done?

If you are talking all time, it would have to be Ikola.

Tom Osiecki created a program that learned how to get it done. 5 Straight tourney in the late 80's getting to the final 4 times and winning 2 back to back.

RANDOLPH

You guys have named a lot of great head coaches of all-time. Just thought I'd throw out Oscar Almquist..

St. Paul Johnsons' Rube Gustafson and Lou Cotroneo.

hockeyrocks wrote:Wally Chapman has to be in the top two or three. He's been there 10 plus years, won two State tourneys and continues to attract some of the top talent in the state. He probably is a big reason guys like Mueller, Wheeler, Fulton, Dee, Adams, (all drafted) etc... have chosen Breck over all the other options. And on top of that, he appears to be a great guy.

Him along with how much he's willing to give them ...

(AND I'M EVEN SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS PRIVATE SCHOOLS)

Undercover Hockey Lover wrote:Of current coaches...Greg Trebil. Has had some tough luck the last couple seasons but have seen him makes some adjustments in the big games that have stymied the opposition. People will say he always has the horses but you have to know how to ride those horses.

Some of the Ram Faithful may disagree but I'll also say Scott Oliver for a couple reasons...he's grown as a HS coach after figuring it would be a breeze after coaching at the college ranks. He has done a great job of utilizing his assistants talents (Bill Lund-offensive and special teams and the Byfuglien that helped with the D) and giving them credit. He's made the tough cuts and some unpopular decisions for what turned out for the team and the individuals positively for the most part. He may not be the most popular guy in Roseau but they are hanging another banner at the Memorial and if the boys stick around it is possible they repeat and possibly three-peat.

Oliver has to be considered for current coaches for how well the Rams improved from the first two showings against Moorhead last year. There was likely alot of strategy in that though, but that hand has been played and nobody is going to be surprised this year. As far as the three peat crap , back to back is going to be awfully tough with a big target on their back.

Have to get out of the region first (Do not forget, last year Moorhead and Holy angels thought that was a foregone conclusion.) Moorhead could do to Roseau what Roseau did to them last year although I would not bet on it.

Edina has strengthened their roster and they were a tough team already. HM has brought in some new talent as well although they have been predicatable at showing chokability at State.

Bill Lund and Andy Lundbohm were the core of what happened in '07. They ran practice and know how Roseau hockey works... Let the kids skate and use their imagination. God knows the kids know hockey and have been on the ice more than anyone, we all saw it happen in St. Paul. Oliver is an amazing motivator and could get an average team believing they are invincible. But don't go so far as saying he is the best in MN. He surrounded himself with great coaches.

Underdog pick would be Cary Eades. He was one of the most intimidating coaches to play against, college or high school. The intensity that that man had was scary.

But overall and looking at history, Willard Ikola hands down. Anyone who can have an article of clothing be as famous as him means something. Played HS and College hockey... the guy has been at the rink more than his home home. By far the best coach in history. Just goes to show that goalies are the best coaches.

sieve_33 wrote:Bill Lund and Andy Lundbohm were the core of what happened in '07. They ran practice and know how Roseau hockey works... Let the kids skate and use their imagination. God knows the kids know hockey and have been on the ice more than anyone, we all saw it happen in St. Paul. Oliver is an amazing motivator and could get an average team believing they are invincible. But don't go so far as saying he is the best in MN. He surrounded himself with great coaches.

Underdog pick would be Cary Eades. He was one of the most intimidating coaches to play against, college or high school. The intensity that that man had was scary.

But overall and looking at history, Willard Ikola hands down. Anyone who can have an article of clothing be as famous as him means something. Played HS and College hockey... the guy has been at the rink more than his home home. By far the best coach in history. Just goes to show that goalies are the best coaches.

How can you downgrade Oliver because he surrounds himself with good people and then call Ikola the greatest of all-time when he made an art of surrounding himself with good people (who contributed more than most people know to the success of Edina hockey)? Part of being a great head coach is having the confidence to allow others to help out that may have more knowlege than you in a specific area.