The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Westlake promotes assistant to head coach
For the first time in 10 years, there will be a new face at the helm of the Westlake hockey program.
Come game time this winter, a new but familiar face will be at the head of the bench.
2014 Westlake graduate Brendan Teets will be elevated to head coach from his current position as top assistant coach pending board approval.
“It was exciting,” Teets told The Morning Journal about his reaction to being promoted. “It was something that was kind of in the making for a little bit. I didn’t know about it but apparently it was on the back burner for a little while. I was excited to hear (about being promoted) and I’m excited to see where I can take the team.”
Teets takes over for John Duke, who led the team for the first 10 years of its existence. Duke will remain on staff but will take a lesser role in order to spend more time with his family.
“Brendan has taken more and more responsibility over the last two years and has really developed great relationships with the members of the team,” Duke said in a news release. “I think he is more than ready for this challenge and I look forward to seeing the team under his leadership.”
Teets was a three-year starter on the Westlake hockey team. The defenseman played in 86 games and compiled 10 goals and 26 assists over his career. Teets helped propel the Demons to an SWC Championship in 2014.
“It is always great to have an alum come back and take over a program,” Westlake Athletic Director Tony Cipollone said in a release. “When Coach Duke first came to me to discuss his future and the possibility that he thought Brendan would be a good successor, I asked him to continually give Brendan more responsibility. He did and Brendan arose to the occasion just like he did as a player, which gave me confidence that he was ready for this.”
Teets played under Duke during his career as a Demons player and is happy to be able to coach at his alma mater.
“It’s an honor and it’s very nice,” Teets said. “I was very
surprised when (Duke) told me that he was going to be recommending me for the position. I was glad to hear Tony (Cipollone) was on board with it and it’s exciting. It’s a very good honor.”
The coaching staff is remaining in tact, something that should benefit Teets and his team.
“I don’t think much is going to change as far as the systems that we run and the coaching styles,” Teets said. “I think it’s going to help the kids the most because the returning kids aren’t going to have to try to feel out a new coaching staff. I’m hoping that it’s going to be a nice, seamless transition. The kids won’t have to try to figure out a new system. (We can tell them), ‘just keep doing what you’ve been doing, you guys know what you’re doing.’ We’re just going to keep moving along.”
Despite having success in previous years, the Demons finished with a 7-23 overall record, coupled with a 3-9 conference record in 2019. Teets is looking to build upon past success that the program has had.
“I want to keep working the new kids that are joining the sport and coming into the program,” Teets said. “I want to keep helping build them and make them hockey players. The hockey players that we do have, I want to keep pushing them and pushing them to what they can achieve and I know they can achieve. (I don’t want to) let them fall behind and fall back and start playing down to another team’s level. (I want them to) play to our level and the game that we know how to play.”