FormerWildcat
08-13-10, 12:32 PM
Here's a pretty big stunner.
http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/4801715292642904365/st-edward-fires-longtime-boys-hockey-coach-rob-whidden/
St. Edward fires longtime boys hockey coach Rob Whidden
Tim Warsinskey / Plain Dealer Reporter, August 13, 2010 9:21 a.m.
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- In a stunning announcement, St. Edward fired hockey coach Rob Whidden on Thursday, ending one of the area's longest running and most successful family coaching dynasties.
"They called me today and told me I will not be coming back," Whidden said Thursday. "I asked them what the reason was and they said they didn't like the direction the program was headed.
"In the last five years, we had more wins than any other team in Ohio, won a state championship, won a Baron Cup, and had a locker room built. I put this junior group we have now together to win at least one state championship."
Troy Gray, a former St. Edward player and an Eagles assistant since 1999, was named head coach.
Whidden became head coach in 2005, following the retirement of his father, Bob Whidden, the most accomplished hockey coach in Ohio history (10 state titles, 507 wins in 20 years).
Rob Whidden won a state title in 2008 and took the Eagles to the state semifinals in 2009. This past season was their worst in recent memory, 17-16-2 and 2-7-1 in the Red North Division of the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League. His record in five seasons was 93-46-11 overall (.657) and 22-17-1 in league play, according to Shutout.com.
Rob Whidden said he was terminated two months ago as St. Edward's associate director of admissions and was told there was not enough funding for the position. He said he felt then his future as hockey coach was in doubt, but still was stunned to be fired Thursday.
"We appreciate the commitment Rob Whidden brought to the program during the past five years as head coach, and as an assistant under his father," Athletic Director Paul Michalko said in a statement.
Principal Gene Boyer could not be reached for comment.
http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/4801715292642904365/st-edward-fires-longtime-boys-hockey-coach-rob-whidden/
St. Edward fires longtime boys hockey coach Rob Whidden
Tim Warsinskey / Plain Dealer Reporter, August 13, 2010 9:21 a.m.
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- In a stunning announcement, St. Edward fired hockey coach Rob Whidden on Thursday, ending one of the area's longest running and most successful family coaching dynasties.
"They called me today and told me I will not be coming back," Whidden said Thursday. "I asked them what the reason was and they said they didn't like the direction the program was headed.
"In the last five years, we had more wins than any other team in Ohio, won a state championship, won a Baron Cup, and had a locker room built. I put this junior group we have now together to win at least one state championship."
Troy Gray, a former St. Edward player and an Eagles assistant since 1999, was named head coach.
Whidden became head coach in 2005, following the retirement of his father, Bob Whidden, the most accomplished hockey coach in Ohio history (10 state titles, 507 wins in 20 years).
Rob Whidden won a state title in 2008 and took the Eagles to the state semifinals in 2009. This past season was their worst in recent memory, 17-16-2 and 2-7-1 in the Red North Division of the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League. His record in five seasons was 93-46-11 overall (.657) and 22-17-1 in league play, according to Shutout.com.
Rob Whidden said he was terminated two months ago as St. Edward's associate director of admissions and was told there was not enough funding for the position. He said he felt then his future as hockey coach was in doubt, but still was stunned to be fired Thursday.
"We appreciate the commitment Rob Whidden brought to the program during the past five years as head coach, and as an assistant under his father," Athletic Director Paul Michalko said in a statement.
Principal Gene Boyer could not be reached for comment.