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I heard from one of the dads, this is the end of Breck hockey as we know it. The only hope they have is if that Flaxer guy can recruit more foreign kids quickly before the next two year classes graduate.

Does anyone know where Les Larson has coached before. The dad said he has been claiming to have 25 years of coaching experience but never gives any specifics. I have never heard of him which doesn't mean much except that I have come across an awful lot of coaches over the past 20 years as my son played. I can't tell this dad anything about this guy. Does anyone know where he coached before?

I am surprised that Breck couldn't recruit a high quality, high profile coach that would draw some kids.

Congratulations to Blake and St Paul Academy, you kept your coaches (Jessie Bull and Craig Norwich who both had to be interested in the Breck job) and apparently caught a break by this hire.

davey wrote:

Tigers33 wrote:Why would the Faribault coach leave down there if the team should be good in the future?

Interesting choice...

Maybe he didn't have a choice. Never know

The Faribault teacher's (Solem is a Social Studies teacher) are still without a contract and the situation is very tense. Without going into detail the school board is inept, and some drastic changes are on the horizon. Solem had to be let go and rehired the last two years due to the unpredictability of the district's budget, although he would have been back next year. I think he was seeking the job security that the Monticello position offered. Incidently, he also expressed an interest in being closer to his home town of Little Falls.

[quote="pucker52"]I heard from one of the dads, this is the end of Breck hockey as we know it. The only hope they have is if that Flaxer guy can recruit more foreign kids quickly before the next two year classes graduate.

Does anyone know where Les Larson has coached before. The dad said he has been claiming to have 25 years of coaching experience but never gives any specifics. I have never heard of him which doesn't mean much except that I have come across an awful lot of coaches over the past 20 years as my son played. I can't tell this dad anything about this guy. Does anyone know where he coached before?

I am surprised that Breck couldn't recruit a high quality, high profile coach that would draw some kids.

Congratulations to Blake and St Paul Academy, you kept your coaches (Jessie Bull and Craig Norwich who both had to be interested in the Breck job) and apparently caught a break by this hire.[/quote]

I do not know of anywhere he coached, I know he was on the high school hockey hobey baker committee.

Who else applied? This is a very unusual hire, maybe the pool of applicants was not very deep?

Soulforged wrote:

davey wrote:

Tigers33 wrote:Why would the Faribault coach leave down there if the team should be good in the future?

Interesting choice...

Maybe he didn't have a choice. Never know

The Faribault teacher's (Solem is a Social Studies teacher) are still without a contract and the situation is very tense. Without going into detail the school board is inept, and some drastic changes are on the horizon. Solem had to be let go and rehired the last two years due to the unpredictability of the district's budget, although he would have been back next year. I think he was seeking the job security that the Monticello position offered. Incidently, he also expressed an interest in being closer to his home town of Little Falls.

That is good to hear. I thought he did an decent job with the talent he had

Defiant wrote:Mankato East????

Aaron Anderson resigns as Waseca's head coach to take the Mankato East job.

pucker52 wrote:I heard from one of the dads, this is the end of Breck hockey as we know it. The only hope they have is if that Flaxer guy can recruit more foreign kids quickly before the next two year classes graduate.

Does anyone know where Les Larson has coached before. The dad said he has been claiming to have 25 years of coaching experience but never gives any specifics. I have never heard of him which doesn't mean much except that I have come across an awful lot of coaches over the past 20 years as my son played. I can't tell this dad anything about this guy. Does anyone know where he coached before?

I am surprised that Breck couldn't recruit a high quality, high profile coach that would draw some kids.

Congratulations to Blake and St Paul Academy, you kept your coaches (Jessie Bull and Craig Norwich who both had to be interested in the Breck job) and apparently caught a break by this hire.

Is that who they hired? Les Larson? I heard Wes Walz and Brian Bonin applied. Why wouldn't they go with one of them? Who is Les Larson??

winger91 wrote:

pucker52 wrote:I heard from one of the dads, this is the end of Breck hockey as we know it. The only hope they have is if that Flaxer guy can recruit more foreign kids quickly before the next two year classes graduate.

Does anyone know where Les Larson has coached before. The dad said he has been claiming to have 25 years of coaching experience but never gives any specifics. I have never heard of him which doesn't mean much except that I have come across an awful lot of coaches over the past 20 years as my son played. I can't tell this dad anything about this guy. Does anyone know where he coached before?

I am surprised that Breck couldn't recruit a high quality, high profile coach that would draw some kids.

Congratulations to Blake and St Paul Academy, you kept your coaches (Jessie Bull and Craig Norwich who both had to be interested in the Breck job) and apparently caught a break by this hire.

Is that who they hired? Les Larson? I heard Wes Walz and Brian Bonin applied. Why wouldn't they go with one of them? Who is Les Larson??

Les Larson.....hmmmmm wasn't he the weather guy on the 70's TV show WKRP in Cincinnati?

If Les Larson really has 25 years coaching experience, does anyone have any idea where at? It really seems hard to believe with some of the names mentioned that may have applied, that he made it out of the pile and nobody seems to know anything about him?


Any word on Sibley or Minnehaha yet?

hmmmmm....
Les Larson
Brian Bonin
Wes Walz

It appears that alliteration is the number one quality the Breck administration is looking for in a coach.

Maybe they can get Ogee Oglethorp, next.

Larson is a Hill Murray grad who played at Notre Dame.

He is a former teacher who coached at Anoka and then coached youth hockey for a number of years and then was the Breck assistant last year.

Breck is getting a really good coach.

It shouldn't surprise anybody that some parent thinks that a former Wild player with zero coaching experience would be better because he recognizes the name.

I agree, call it the Curt Giles effect. When Giles didn't win they wanted him canned now that he's won he's great and we (being of short term memory) think that ex NHL'ers are now the way to go. Of course it has nothing to do with kids and their talent

goldy313 wrote:I agree, call it the Curt Giles effect. When Giles didn't win they wanted him canned now that he's won he's great and we (being of short term memory) think that ex NHL'ers are now the way to go. Of course it has nothing to do with kids and their talent

Bingo. There are people who have posted on this forum that Phil Housley should be run out of Stillwater. If I remember right, Phil had a pretty decent NHL career.

[quote="goldy313"]I agree, call it the Curt Giles effect. When Giles didn't win they wanted him canned now that he's won he's great and we (being of short term memory) think that ex NHL'ers are now the way to go. Of course it has nothing to do with kids and their talent [/quote]

What did Edina win? The runner-up trophy at the State Tournament. I don't think the Edina community is satisfied with that. I am actually surprised Giles as lasted this long. It would be a huge disappointment if Edina doesn't win it all next year. With their talent they should be contending for the championship every season.

Les Larso also coached at Spring Lake Park in the late 70's and early 80's for a few years.

elliott70 wrote:

D16Dad wrote:

elliott70 wrote:Bemidji begins interviewing on Thursday for a new coach.
I believe there are 7 (maybe 8 ) canidates.

3 or 4 are local.
There are 4 from out of town.
The list looks very good with all of them capable of doing a good job (on paper - at least the ones I have seen).

The names I have heard:
Wade Chiodo
From Thief River Falls, played at BSU, JV coach at Bemidji.

Jeff Palmer
Mike McKeely(sp?)
Don't have my notes with me, will come back with another post or edit.

Craig Larson
Former Jr coach and coached at Apollo prior to that, I think.

Keith Huerd
Originally from Warroad, asst coach for Bemidji girls varsity now. Lots of experience.

Brad Johnson
Bemidji kid, played Junior hockey and for BSU. Has some coaching experience in hockey and baseball. Well liked by kids (not that th eothers are not).

Someone from the Mankato area, but can not recall the name right now.
I believe this individual is the former Faribault coach, Jeff(/) Solum.

Possibly one more local person
I was told Neil Huewe had applied at one time. Neil is from Bemidji, played college baseball, has coached Bemidji peewee A's for 3 years or so.

Elliott

Do you know anything about the out of town applicants; where they are from and prior experience?

I will get their full resumes tomorrow when we start interviews.

I gave a background on everyone so non-Bemidji people will know something about them.

Any news or narrowing of candidate lists?

D16Dad wrote:

elliott70 wrote:

D16Dad wrote: Elliott

Do you know anything about the out of town applicants; where they are from and prior experience?

I will get their full resumes tomorrow when we start interviews.

I gave a background on everyone so non-Bemidji people will know something about them.

Any news or narrowing of candidate lists?

We interviewed five people.
All were very good.
We scored them and turned our individual info into the AD.
We then talked and reviewed and came to a concensus on one individual.
AD has one more canidate to interview and he will decide whether we will do that next Monday or go with our current leader.
AD will decide and then process the refereneces if not interviewing the other individual.

Palmer, Larson, Huerd, Chido and Johnson were interviewed.
All had a lot more positive than negative.

elliott70 wrote:

D16Dad wrote:

elliott70 wrote: I will get their full resumes tomorrow when we start interviews.

I gave a background on everyone so non-Bemidji people will know something about them.

Any news or narrowing of candidate lists?

We interviewed five people.
All were very good.
We scored them and turned our individual info into the AD.
We then talked and reviewed and came to a concensus on one individual.
AD has one more canidate to interview and he will decide whether we will do that next Monday or go with our current leader.
AD will decide and then process the refereneces if not interviewing the other individual.

Palmer, Larson, Huerd, Chido and Johnson were interviewed.
All had a lot more positive than negative.

Any background you can share on Palmer?

Palmer coached at St Francis the last two years. He was very well thought of there. He has abobut 7 years coaching at the college level.
He has developed a program geared to coaching coaches and players called Super Skate. He was the oldest of those interviewed. Came across as very solid hockey person, confident, and ready for a challenge at the HS and youth level.

Didn't Palmer get fired at St. Francis? What for? Also how does he explain taking his team off the ice last year because the game got too dangerous?

What else can you share about Larson?

DannyCalifornia wrote:Why would Eastview coach leave or not get brought back? Team had 17 wins last yr, just wondering.

Breck-- Heard Walz has applied? Anything new here?

According to todays St. Paul Pioneer Press:


Apple Valley-based Eastview High School has selected Drew Bradley as its boys hockey coach and David Herem as its girls soccer coach.

Wade Chiodo is the new coach for Bemidji. Congrats!! Hopefully they will let him pick his staff, something the AD did not let happen last the last go around.

beaver16 wrote:Wade Chiodo is the new coach for Bemidji. Congrats!! Hopefully they will let him pick his staff, something the AD did not let happen last the last go around.

Good News! Ditto on the staff, what is your source???

wbmd wrote:

DannyCalifornia wrote:Why would Eastview coach leave or not get brought back? Team had 17 wins last yr, just wondering.

Breck-- Heard Walz has applied? Anything new here?

According to todays St. Paul Pioneer Press:


Apple Valley-based Eastview High School has selected Drew Bradley as its boys hockey coach and David Herem as its girls soccer coach.

Any info on why last yrs coach wouldn't be back? Who is Drew Bradley?

beaver16 wrote:Wade Chiodo is the new coach for Bemidji. Congrats!! Hopefully they will let him pick his staff, something the AD did not let happen last the last go around.

That's right.
And his staff will be picked by him; assuming they meet the basic requirements of ISD 31.

Who is Drew Bradley?

Drey Bradley.

Drey has been a assistant coach for EV ever since Mike Gibbons was brought in (ten plus years). Him and Bart Larson co-head coached last year, and with Bart being over 70 Drey took it over this year. He played at BSU (Mike's D partner), all-american defenseman and broke mane records. Good coach, and shouldn't expect nothing to major to change... Maybe a little more discipline. Hope this helps.