Former RPI great Adam Oates critical of program
TROY, N.Y. » Of all the great players to come out of the RPI hockey program, Adam Oates ranks right up near the top. Oates played 19 seasons in the NHL and was the head coach of the Washington Capitals and co-head coach of the New Jersey Devils. He’s one of the NHL’s alltime assist leaders.
He might be one of RPI’s best, but he’s certainly not happy about the state of affairs of the current program.
“I wasn’t in any contact, they did contact me and I passed because I’m smart enough to know that athletics isn’t the most important thing there,” Oates said, when asked on camera by a fan about RPI hockey’s recent coaching search during a Q&A. “And they’re going to make their own decisions, so I didn’t want to waste my energy and be frustrated at the end of it.”
“And that’s exactly what happened. They had a committee, they didn’t listen to the committee and they picked a guy. I have talked to the coach, the new guy. A good man. I feel sorry for Seth (Appert). It’s tough to coach there, it is. Very hard to recruit with the academic standards. It’s a tough place.”
When the comments were brought to the attention of RPI athletic director Lee McElroy, he didn’t respond to questions about his reaction, or if the committee’s suggestions were taken into consideration.
“Thanks for sharing,” McElroy said in an email. “Dave Smith has spoken with Adam and he looks forward to his support.”
Follow-up were ignored.
The comments made by Oates come following a slew of comments made by seven prominent alumni in interviews given to The Record in April.
Frank Chiarelli, an RPI hockey alum and national champion said he thought the current administration “couldn’t care less.”
Mike Sadeghpour, a former RPI assistant coach and national champion player said, “It’s not a Division I program.”
RPI fired its coach of 11 seasons, Appert, in March. Appert made the NCAA Tournament one time during his tenure and finished 8-28-1 last season. McElroy hired Dave Smith a month later from Canisius College. He’ll be entering his first season. questions