BLOG 35: Daniels and Cole are an interesting coaching matchup

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – This weekend’s ice hockey series between Ferris State University and the University of Alabama-Huntsville features an intriguing coaching matchup.

Ferris’ Bob Daniels, the 2002-03 American Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Coach of the Year, is in his 17th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. On the opposite bench, however, will be a UAH coach who has deep and significant ties to the state of Michigan. The Chargers are coached by Danton Cole (in his second season after serving as an assistant for Bowling Green State University during 2006-07), a 1991 graduate of Michigan State University who played for the Spartans from 1986-89 and was a member of the 1986 MSU national championship squad. Cole, following a successful playing career during which he won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League, went on to become head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Even today, he ranks as the Griffins’ all-time winningest coach at 116-72-17.

So, there will be some familiarity between the two men.

Daniels, who is 0-1-0 during his head coaching career against UAH, is a 1982 graduate of Michigan State University.

For more on coaches, visit:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/hockey/0809news/0809release12-9.htm

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com