By Scott McLaughlin/DFP Staff
UMass-Lowell has fired head coach Blaise MacDonald, according to the Lowell Sun. Sources told the paper that MacDonald e-mailed his players Thursday to inform them that he would not be returning next season. The article said the school is expected to make an official announcement sometime Friday.
MacDonald went 150-178-42 in 10 seasons as the River Hawks’ head coach. UML posted a dismal 5-25-4 record this season and finished last in Hockey East. The five wins were the fewest in the program’s 28 years in Division I.
The Billerica native led the River Hawks to three 20-win seasons, but they never made the NCAA tournament during his tenure. The closest they came was in 2009, when they lost 1-0 to Boston University in the Hockey East championship game.
According to U.S. Hockey Report, former Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish and current Hamilton College head coach Norm Bazin are two of the names expected to be considered in the search for MacDonald’s successor. Both are UML alums.
The River Hawks become the second Hockey East team in as many days to part ways with their head coach, as Tim Army relinquished his coaching duties at Providence College on Thursday.
Update: The university has now made it official. Click here to read the full release.
Does tis make Blaise the favorite to replace Jack Parker in the near future?
As much as I like Blaise as a person, I think BU is going to have better options than him when it comes time to replace Parker. Let’s remember that Blaise just got fired for not cutting it at UML. Would he really be able to get it done at BU? Obviously he’d have more resources to work with, but I’m not convinced the answer to that question is yes.
When the time finally comes for BU to replace Jack Parker (his contract runs through 2015), it is almost certainly going to be a former Terrier player.
Blaise MacDonald played at RIT. I’m sure he could return as an assistant some day. Don’t forget that Buddy Powers had some a lot of success as a head coach at RPI and Bowling Green before things went sour, and he’s now back at his alma mater.
If Parker decided to retire (don’t see that happening anytime soon), the favorites, in order:
1. Mike Sullivan
2. David Quinn
3. Mike Bavis
Of course, that could change if Sullivan was a NHL head coach again when the job opened up. Or if Joe Sacco wasn’t coaching in the NHL at that time.
The bottom line is expect Jack Parker to be around as long as his health allows, and it seems pretty good now.
Wasn’t Mike Sullivan that loser who couldn’t cut it with the Bruins?
Mike Sullivan had a winning record as Bruins coach.
Couldn’t happen to a better guy…Blaise is a perfectionist at treating grown men like children, yelling and screaming inches from their face like an idiot. Take it from a former player of his.