Around and Around They Go

The coaching carousel in the QMJHL is spinning out of control.
Everyone knows coaches are hired to be fired and in this day and age have an extremely short shelf life.
Why?
That’s the question everyone is asking, the answer to that one is as complex as ever.
Coaching in 2023 isn’t easy.
Coaching in any era of the game isn’t easy.
For a split second put yourself in a owners or GM’s shoes, who would you hire?
“Oh, well that would depend on what time it is within the Junior hockey cycle which coach I would hire.”
Why should that matter?
You see there’s so many variables to consider when looking at Major Junior hockey clubs and the right fit behind the bench.
Around and around they go.
Retreading coaches is just what the hockey world does. That’s where the shelf life comes in. It’s like everyone assumes that coaches that have had some success at that level in the past, but have been fired or “let go” still have value and can still lead. Obviously, that’s a true statement, but have those coaches and front office staff learned from their mistakes? How the hell can an owner or GM know that for sure? The answer to that million dollar question, or shall we say six figure question in the Q, is they don’t.

You see there’s no guarantees when it comes to coaches these days.
There’s no perfect coach out there, they all have flaws like we all do, but the search or process for “who’s next” should be where the owner or GM learns the valuable lessons.
Hiring the right person for the job is complex, hiring the right person for the job even though you are aware of their shortcomings or flaws, which are well documented, but you hire them anyway is a quite the different story.
“Oh, that coach is a great assistant coach, but they aren’t head coach material.”
What a crock of shit or what great insight?
How the hell can a young up and coming assistant coach get a chance to prove themselves when they are typecast?
Hiring a coach is a leap of faith for many GM’s and owners and that’s the reason so many of them get burned, because they no doubt feel more comfortable or safe hiring an experienced coach rather than a new one due in large part to the optics or perception behind it.
Who would you hire?
Why has there been so much turnover and movement this year in the QMJHL?
No one really knows the answer to that one except for the people behind the scenes, but that’s what makes it so intriguing.
There are some great highly qualified coaches out there, that are more then capable of leading a hockey team to the promise land, the people doing the hiring just need to be able to find them.
The role of the coach has drastically changed and evolved over the years. If that’s true which it is, why don’t the people doing the hiring think outside of the box and hire a person that fits the role in every facet of the job. From the X’s and O’s to the personal side, or communicational aspect of the game? Perhaps some assistant coaches are too valuable in their current role, so the organization doesn’t promote within because they don’t want to lose them when the inevitable happens when things don’t go well as a head coach or when there’s some growing pains within that role.
Both jobs are incredibly complex, from the hiring, to coaching, the job never gets easier, but that’s where all the answers can be found.
The relationship between GM and coach is critical.
The desperation and urgency to find the right coach, versus the desperation and urgency to win, should be shared amongst the two roles. In many cases it isn’t, especially when the heats on and junior teams are ramping up to make a run for a championship.
High profile and experienced versus the right fit.
Who’s next?
Your guess is as good as mine, but there’s still going to be movement on that front in the QMJHL.
Around and around they go.
Who would you hire?
Well, if I was hiring, I would be looking at a coach that connects with players, that will hold them(every player) accountable. I would hire a motivator, a teacher, a a developer, a straight shooter, but most importantly a communicator so the players and everyone involved know exactly where they stand throughout the entire process.
There’s a massive difference between passionate and old school hard ass, dictatorial coach.
I would hire a coach that understands and appreciates every facet of their job, but also appreciates every facet of the GM’s job as well.
That’s who I would hire, who would you hire?
Around and around they go.