The Anaheim Ducks of the NHL have hired a head coach for Greg Cronin, the 11th head coach in franchise history.
Cronin, 60, is starting his first stint as a head coach in the NHL after 36 years of prior experience coaching and developing players, including 12 years as an assistant coach in the NHL, and roles in the AHL (NCAA) and USA Hockey.
“As we cast a wide net in the search for the next head coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be a perfect fit for the position,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “Being a young team, I felt we needed a mentor to the finer points of the game, someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players. Greg has done all of that and more, and we are excited to be naming him coach for Anaheim.” Ducks”.
Cronin joins Anaheim after spending five seasons as head coach of the Colorado Eagles in the AHL.
“I am excited and honored to be named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks,” Cronin said. “This team has a great future, and I am so grateful to the Samueli family and Pat Verbeek for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity.”
Prior to his role with Colorado, Cronin spent four seasons with the New York Islanders, including three as an assistant coach (2014-17), before being promoted to assistant coach in 2017-18. He also served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2011 to 2014.
Cronin’s first tenure with the Islanders organization spanned seven seasons, including two seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2002-2005), and five seasons as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2003. He also served as the club’s director of player development from 2002-05.
Cronin spent six seasons as head coach at Northeastern from 2005 to 2011. He was named the 2009 Hockey East Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 25-12-4 record and the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 15 years. He was an assistant coach at Maine from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1995, while serving as interim head coach from December 1995 through December 1996. He was also an assistant coach at Colorado College (1990-1993) where he helped the Tigers reach the final of the WCHA tournament in 1992 for the first time in 14 years.
A co-founder of the United States National Team Development Program, Cronin spent the program’s inaugural season as Director of Player Development in 1996-97 and served as head coach in 1997-98. Cronin helped develop players from the inaugural NTDP All-American Team to be selected in the NHL Draft, including the first overall pick in 2000, Rick DiPietro. Some of the best drafted players include Ron Heinsey (13th round in 2000), Jordan Leopold (2nd round in 1999), Brad Winchester (2nd round in 2000) and John Michael Lyles (5th round in 2000).
Cronin played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Colby College from 1982 to 1986, helping the team to its ECAC Division II Final Four appearances in 1983 and 1984, while earning Most Valuable Player honors in 1984 and a Coach’s Award in 1986. He began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1987-88. He received his MBA from the University of Maine in 1990 while working as a graduate assistant in the hockey program.
Arlington, MA, has served as an assistant coach for Team USA at three IIHF World Championships (1997, 2011, and 2012). He was also an assistant coach at back-to-back Junior World Championships in 1997 and 1998, and helped the United States to a silver medal in 1997.