Granato named head coach for 2018 Olympics
MADISON – The University of Wisconsin once again will be represented on the U.S. men’s hockey team in the Olympics.
Tony Granato, named Big Ten coach of the year after his first season as UW’s head coach, on Friday was named head coach of the U.S. team scheduled to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
“As you might expect, I’m unbelievably honored to be up here today,” Granato, a two-time AllAmerican at UW, said during a news conference.
“I’m excited to get this thing going.”
Former UW defenseman Chris Chelios will be one of Granato’s assistants.
Former UW player Jim Johannson, an executive with USA Hockey, was named general manager of the team.
The Olympics, the first without National Hockey League players since 1994. are scheduled for Feb. 14-25, meaning Granato will be away for UW’s games Feb. 23 and 24 at Ohio State.
Granato said he would miss a total of four games. Team
USA is scheduled to compete in the Deutschland Cup from Nov. 10-12. UW is scheduled to play at Michigan State on Nov. 10 and 11.
UW has a bye week during the open weekend of the Olympics.
Granato was an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. Olympic team in Sochi, Russia, and was a player on the U.S. team that competed at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
“He is a guy that wore the jersey proudly for us,” Johannson said.
Granato was an assistant coach with three NHL teams during a 12-year span before taking over the UW program before last season.
UW finished 20-15-1 under Granato, an improvement of 12 games over the 2016’-17 season.
“The experiences that we’ve all had in the game -- we’ve been blessed to wear the American sweater,” Granato said. “We’ve done it as players, as coaches . ...
“There is no greater thrill in the game of hockey than to be able to cheer for, represent, wear the sweater and wear the colors. The pride we have in being associated with the American program and Team USA is what makes it special.”