Ferguson, Patrick named Nanooks’ hockey finalists
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Current assistant coach Dallas Ferguson, and Wisconsin assistant coach Kevin Patrick have been named finalists for the vacant University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey coaching position.
Ferguson has been an assistant coach for the past four seasons and was a standout defenseman for the Nanooks from 1992-96.
Patrick was a finalist for the Nanooks head coaching position last year when Doc DelCastillo was awarded the position, following the resignation of Tavis MacMillan.
DelCastillo abruptly resigned on April 9 after just one year at the helm of the Nanooks, who finished the year with a 9-21-5 overall record and an 8-16-4 mark in the Central Collegiate Athletic Association.
Patrick, one of four finalists last year, has been an assistant at Wisconsin since 2005 and helped the Badgers win the 2006 NCAA Division I hockey championship.
“It’s great having two well-known individuals as finalists,” Karr said in a press release issued by the university Monday afternoon.
“Both are recognized throughout college hockey as great guys and exceptional teachers,” Karr said. “They are both very enthusiastic about the opportunity.”
The two finalists will participate in public forums later this week at the Carlson Center.
“The public forums will be an opportunity for fans, media and student-athletes to meet with the candidates and give feedback,” Karr said.
Karr hopes to name a new coach by May 16.
Ferguson’s forum is scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Patrick’s forum is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Dallas Ferguson
Prior to joining the Nanooks when MacMillan took over as head coach in 2004, Ferguson served three seasons as an assistant coach with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League.
He was a standout defenseman for the Nanooks during his four-year career. He’s a member of the Nanooks’ 100-point club. He was team captain during his senior year and served as an assistant captain his junior year.
Ferguson earned the Doug Desorcie Top Rookie award in 1992-93, the Shawn Chambers Best Defenseman award from 1993-96, and the McDonald’s Most Assists for Children award.
Following his collegiate career, Ferguson played with the Baltimore Bandits of the American Hockey League, the Alaska Gold Kings of the West Coast Hockey League, the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast Hockey League and the Anchorage Aces of the WCHL.
Kevin Patrick
Patrick should be familiar with the Nanooks program as he served as an assistant coach at Alaska’s Central Collegiate Hockey Association rival Bowling Green from 2002-05, before moving on to Wisconsin.
He also put in a three-year stint as an assistant at Division I Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., from 1999-2002. Prior to that, he served one year as an assistant coach/assistant general manager for the Green Bay Gamblers Junior A team.
Patrick played college hockey at Notre Dame from 1988-1992. He was the team captain his junior and senior seasons. Patrick played lacrosse for the Fighting Irish in 1989 and 1990.
He played professionally during the 1992-93 season, splitting time with the Green Bay Ice (American Hockey Association), St. Thomas Wildcats (Colonial Hockey League) and New Haven Senators (American Hockey League). He was selected to the 1993 AHA All-Star Team.
Contact sports editor Bob Eley at 459-7581.
Comments
good to know karr selected an assistant coach who was around for tavis's and doc's time...i think we need a fresh face. My vote is for Patrick. And fire Karr.
When this group was formed I mentioned the problem of the search committee...you basically assembled the same group of people who made the choice from last year and what did you get? Basically the same answer as a year ago. Just super.
Ya, same finalists except for Doc...guess its gonna take a few more years for someone higher up on campus to realize what the problem is.
just kidding, it was Wade last year instead of Dallas huh?
Patrick would be a better fit, he won a national Championship with Bucky the Badger and hopefully he could build a winning atmosphere.
gimme a break. Paterick a better fit? Ok have another guy move up here with no ties to the community and bail on us a couple of years down the road. I say go with Dallas, he not only has set roots here, but he has spent the vast majority of his career coaching here in Fairbanks. He is committed to the program and he has been loyal to his trade. Sure he does not fit the profile of a lot other folks on the hill, especially the ones who try to run the show up there. But one thing is for sure, Dallas has not only earned the Nooks head coaching job, I think he deserves it!!
If Patrick is selected then we get both coaches. It's a pretty simple decision.
stay with local talent...they appreciate the fans and the love we have for the sport. haven't they learned....big hint....doc....need i say more? karr...we don't want any more forests on the hill....hit the road.
Doc was asked to leave or else.
Tavis was here for how many years then bailed after only three seasons as a head coach?
Patrick clearly has the better resume. Dallas would be a great choice but Patrick with Dallas is a better one.
Ive known Dallas for a long time
He is a quality individual with 1) local roots 2) committment to the program, and 3) perhaps the most important, a committment to the community
Either choice would be good for UAF, but I hope it is Dallas
I would say that neither resume is all that impressive. Neither have been a head coach at any level and Patrick has been a 2nd assistant at 2 weak programs in Union and BG and now Wisconsin seems to be headed into a major downturn
Ok you say pick someone with roots here in town, pretty sure tavis had ties here and he didn't do so hot. Also, you say picking someone with roots here is better? Guy Gadowsky had no ties here and look what he did for the program.
Dallas isn't guaranteed to get an assistant position if Patrick is chosen. Head coaches choose their assistants. Tavis changed all the assistants when he came in and so did Gadowsky.
Pick Dallas.
The problem I have with this news is that just a few days ago it seems that they still were looking at what....eight or nine canidates? What the heck happened to the rest of them? Did not one or two others have enough on the ball to warrant a trip here to be further interviewed? Or is it a case like last time when one of our own local sons came up for a look see, and after talking to people involved in hockey in the community pulled his name because he didn't like what he was hearing? Also, the last article I saw didn't provide the names of all the canidates, because suppossedly Karr didn't want to release them because some needed to talk to their families and some other questionable reasons. Ok, I am sure the other canidates have now informed their families they tried getting the job here but weren't picked. So, can we please have their names????? Or is another case of the Newsminer only providing what the athletic department tells them, same as when they failed to give Coach Ostanik's side of that story?
The reason there are no other candidates visiting UAF is that Karr wants to hire Patrick. Reputable organizations do not run a so called national search and only come up with a in house guy and a guy that was passed over for the job 10 months ago. For whatever the reason, Karr wants to hire a Patrick. Should make for some interesting questioning.
I imagine it was pretty clear that Kevin Patrick was the better of all the applicants. He should have been picked last year and Mr. Karr certainly knows that now.
I have nothing against the fine Canadian players we have but I believe Patrick could bring more national diversity to the program as far as recruiting. We seem to be closely tied to our southern neighbors. Doc was supposed to change that, seeing that his amazing recruiting at UNO tipped the scales last time. Patrick seems to have the personality for a head coach. He has my vote.
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