Wide interest in Petes coaching job
Brock Badgers coach and former OHL coach Marty Williamson interested in the job
There are no shortage of qualified candidates expressing interest in the Peterborough Petes coaching vacancy including Marty Williamson and Jake Grimes.
Williamson would bring instant credibility to the organization based on his track record.
He has 12 years of OHL head coaching experience split between the Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs. He led both to Eastern Conference championships posting a 457-296-63 record while never missing the playoffs. This past year, he led an unheralded Brock Badgers to an appearance in the U Sports Championship Tournament.
When contacted by The Examiner Williamson acknowledged Petes GM Mike Oke reached out to gauge his interest.
“I love the history of the Peterborough Petes with the Staals and Prongers and everybody who has gone through there,” said Williamson. “I wanted it to be long-term with the IceDogs to build the history of a team. Peterborough already has that and I’d love to be a part of that organization.”
Williamson said there is a misconception out there that he’d want full control but he says he knows Oke well and would be very comfortable working for him.
“I’m not looking to be the GM. I want to just coach,” Williamson said. “Coaching is what I love to do.”
While Oke is not operating on a timeline, Williamson said Brock wants to sign him to a long-term deal. He said they’ll probably want an answer within 30 days.
Williamson’s parents used to live in Peterborough, he cottaged in Ennismore for years and has close friends in Peterborough.
“That’s part of what would be the attraction to Peterborough is that I like the area and I know it like the back of my hand,” Williamson said.
There are assistant coaches in the OHL and minor pro leagues expressing interest in the Petes job as well as tier II junior A coaches.
One rumour mill suggestion that can be dismissed is that former Petes captain Dallas Eakins is a candidate. Eakins said his career ambitions are at the professional level where he is currently head coach of the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls.
The Petes wouldn’t have to go far to find numerous of qualified people with local ties.
Grimes and Petes interim head coach Andrew Verner are candidates who have already talked to Oke.
There are others who have not who are still in-season but might be worth Oke’s time. Peterborough native and ex-Pete John Druce led the Cobourg Cougars to an RBC Cup last year. This year he’s taken the Wellington Dukes to the OJHL final, overcoming a 3-1 second-round deficit to Newmarket.
Kurtis Foster left the Petes to take a bench role as an assistant with the Kingston Frontenacs who are in the Eastern Conference final. Joe Cirella, who was an assistant coach for the Petes in 2009-10, coaches the defence for the first place Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He has 21 years of experience as an assistant coach at the OHL and NHL levels.
One intriguing option, said by sources to be interested, is IceDogs assistant coach Ted Dent.
(Tomorrow: An interview with Jake Grimes.)