I don’t think it takes long to figure out if a head coach is “the guy” or not, the person who is going to turn a program around, leading them from the depths of the conference standings to championship-hoisters at the end of the post-season.
Jon Embree probably wasn’t “the guy” to turn around the University of Colorado football program, or at least that’s what someone with money in their pocket thought, which is why Embree was ousted after just two years as head coach with an overall record of 4-21.
It took four seasons for the Colorado Avalanche to decide that Joe Sacco wasn’t “the guy.” The team showed promise under Sacco’s tenure in his first season, but finished towards the bottom of the division in the three following seasons.
After 19 years at DU, Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes fired George Gwozdecky. Reasons for the Gowz departure were mysterious, elusive. They still are. Regardless, Gwoz was “the guy” for a awhile during the 2004 and 2005 championship years, and now he isn’t.
Jim Montgomery is it now, and this time, Peg isn’t the only one on board. I am too.
It was tough to see Gwoz go, don’t get me wrong, especially since he is such a stand-up guy. But since we have to move on, Monty has my full attention.
His team is sitting at .500 entering conference play. And while play is slightly erratic, the team shows glimpses of greatness, which is over-achieving in my book considering the wealth of youth on the team. Remember, there are only two seniors on this team.
In the press release after Montgomery’s introduction as head coach, Bradley-Doppes noted the coach’s “superb hockey acumen” as a reason for hire.
I only fully understood what she was saying after talking to him myself.
The guy knows his stuff, first and foremost.
You can tell he’s played the game at the highest level there is. He’ll bring up stats that you didn’t even think about. And if you don’t know the sport and you’re interviewing him, you’ll pay, because he constantly talks hockey. Believe me, I know from first hand experience. When you’re going back over your notes, the interview will look like the Webdings font if you don’t know what you’re doing. He can’t help himself. Even if you’re looking for a broad, feel-good quote about the game in general, he’ll break down the game as if you’re his assistant coach.
In fact, it’s all in the details for him.
He has the traits of the greats —attention to detail, knowledge, enthusiasm, the want to win.
That’s something I want from my head hockey coach, and for what it’s worth, Jim Montgomery really is “the guy.”
