In addition to today's coaching announcement, the team-name and logo will be announced on Friday as the they are 3 finalist from a name the team contest that was going on over the last couple of months, right now, the name is down to 3 finalist as the team will be either called the Bulls, Storm or Orsprey which will be announced on Friday at 1:30 PM at the Amarillo Civic Center in the Hospitality Room.
It is open to the fans and media as well as some of the sponsors and partners who have signed on
From the North American Hockey League Website: http://www.nahl.com/
The Amarillo, Texas Team that will begin play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) this fall has announced that Dennis Williams has been named the clubs first head coach.
Williams joins the Amarillo team from Bowling Green State University (CCHA) where he served as the Falcons head coach.
"I've known Dennis for a few years and he comes highly recommended by former alumni and his previous employers and players," said Gary Gelinas, exc. vice president Consolidated Sports, owners of the Amarillo team. "For us to secure the services 0f a former Division 1 Player and head coach was very important for the program and this gives us instant credibility in the league and for recruiting."
Williams returned to Bowling Green - his alma matter - as an assistant coach f0r the 2008-2009 season after a very successful start to his career behind the bench, in just six years as a coach, Williams proved himself a solid teacher and someone capable 0f changing the direction of a program.
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to join Amarillo and the North American Hockey League," said Williams. "I'd like to think Gary Gelinas for this opportunity and I look forward to building a great championship winning hockey program. I also look forward to meeting the players and the community of Amarillo.
"Our team will play with high energy and will compete for every puck. We'll be physically and mentally tough and play hard for 60 minutes. The Players will be involved in the community and my expectations are to not only succeed on the ice, but off the ice."
"I'm going to do my best to prepare the players not only to win hockey games, but for there future opportunities to advance to college hockey."
Prior to serving as an assistant coach under Danton Cole at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (CHA) in 2007-2008, Williams was the head coach at Neumann College (ECAC West) from 2003-2006. In just three short years, he built the Knights into a Division 3 Powerhouse, taking a team with a 3-21-1 overall record the year before he arrived to a 17-5-5 mark and a top 5 national ranking in his final season, which included the best two seasons in the school's history.
"Having the opportunity to coach college hockey for the past 8 years at both the Division 1 and Division 3 levels and with an understanding of what it takes to play at the collegiate level and the academic expectations, I feel I can help guide our players there," said Williams.
"Dennis will be an integral part of building this program for years to come and we welcome him to org. and to Amarillo," Gelinas added.
Williams played for the Falcons from 1997 to 2001. He was the Howard Brown Coaches Award Recipient following the 2000-2001 season, recognizing him as the person who best exemplified professional qualities, both on and off the ice, en route to leading the Falcons to a CCHA Semifinal Appearance that season.
Following his graduation in 2001, Williams served as the first graduated assistant at BG in 2002 before moving on to serve as an assistant coach at Utica College (ECAC West) during the 2003-2004 season.
A native of Stranford, Ontario, Williams earned his Masters Degree in marketing education from BGSU in 2003 and his bachelor's degree in sports management in the summer of 2001, graduating cum lude.
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