I am sure by now everyone has had a chance to read the Allen Americans press release announcing the selection of B.J. Adams as the new coach of the team. If not, here is a link to the press release: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/06/americans-hire-their-next-head-coach
- I know many of you were upset the way Chad Costello was let go with one year remaining on his three year contract after all he his has accomplished for the Allen Americans as a player and a coach. I was certainly in that category. Not to belabor what I have said before, but Costello's results after two seasons as the Allen coach were a 2nd place and 3rd place finish in the Mountain Division, two playoff appearances and one playoff series win. How many ECHL teams made the playoffs the last two seasons and won at least one playoff series? The answer is seven out of 28 teams.
- I have also said the only opinion that counts in these situations is that of those paying the bills, the ownership group. I am sure the new majority owners, Myles and LaSonjia Jack, Joe Ernst, recently named Vice President of Hockey Operations for Zawyer Sports, other Zawyer executives (Zawyer manages the Allen Americans) and the Allen Americans senior leadership were in concurrence on this change and it is their call. It is the nature of the business and it can be cruel at times.
- The one person that had nothing to do with this coaching change other than throw his hat in the ring once there was a vacancy is B.J. Adams. After going through the vetting process Adams was the coach the ownership group and Allen Americans executive management agreed was the best choice to lead the team going forward. To answer the many questions I have been getting about the process, there were a lot of applicants, many potential coaches were interviewed before the field was narrowed to the final few candidates from which ownership made its final selection.
- I had some time to talk to coach Adams yesterday which I appreciate given he had so many calls and texts to make at a very busy time of the off season. It was day one of his new job and he was already busy talking to the players on the protected list. What I would say to fans is give the guy a chance. I think you will like him once you get to know him and learn more about him. Here is some information I found out in the 15 minutes I had to talk to Adams.
- Before I talked to Adams I went through his playing days. The 48 year old was a defenseman (6'2" 205) that turned pro after four collegiate years at Bowling Green State University (1996-2000). He played professionally for nine years in four different leagues (IHL, ECHL, CHL, UHL). I won't go through all of the details but he played 259 ECHL games split between the Toledo Storm and Pee Dee Pride and had 65 points (13G, 52A).
- Adams actually started his coaching career before he quit playing. He was the player-assistant coach for three seasons in Port Huron (2006-09). Coach Adams has many years in coaching though the majority of his experience is as an assistant or associate coach. After he retired from playing he became an assistant coach at Canisius College from 2009-2014. He then moved on to the Erie Otters (OHL) and was an assistant coach, associate coach and head coach between 2016-23. In 2016-17 Erie was the OHL champion and a finalist for the Memorial Cup.
- Adams title in Allen will be the same as in the past, coach and general manager. He will have a full time, paid assistant coach. Nothing has been decided yet but the tentative plan is to have a meet the coach press conference and affiliate announcement sometime in July. FYI, most of the Allen staff will be attending the ECHL summer meetings in Las Vegas June 25-27.
- Coach Adam's family will be joining him in Allen. They currently live in Erie, PA. B.J. and his wife Krista have two sons. Pierce is five and Briggs is two. B.J. has a younger brother, Kyle, who is also a hockey coach. Kyle is the head coach for the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, a Junior A team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).
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| The Adams Family (L to R) - Pierce, B.J., Briggs, Krista |
- When I asked coach Adams about the style of play he will put on the ice it was clear he is well aware of the culture in Allen and the high standards that are expected. He will recruit an aggressive group with and without the puck that is hard to play against, with speed and skill. He knows in the Mountain Division you need to play heavy against some teams and with more skill against others. He hopes to build a team that can be successful no matter how the opponent wants to play.
- His favorite player growing up was Wayne Gretzky.
- His earliest hockey memory is playing on the rink his dad would build each winter in the backyard.
- B.J. told me with two young sons most of his free time is devoted to family, but he does enjoy the occasional round of golf.
I am sure there will be more time to get into the details with coach Adams as he settles into his new position. He begins his new job at a very busy time. In addition to recruiting for next season, Adams has to settle all future considerations trades by next Thursday (20th). By my unofficial count Allen owes five players to other ECHL teams. A week from tomorrow (22nd) the Allen season-ending roster is due and that roster is limited to 20 players. A week from Sunday (23rd) is the first day to sign players to contracts for the 2024-25 season. To say it will be a very busy time for coach and general manager Adams is an understatement.
DID YOU KNOW: Late in his playing career (2007-09) while playing for the Port Huron Icehawks (IHL) Adams played with two players that would go on to play for the Allen Americans. Daniel
Tetrualt won his only professional championship in Allen (2013-14) and went on to become the head coach in Rapid City. Mark Nebus played in Allen in 2011-12. The hockey world is a small world indeed.
Will you have the same access to the new coach as you did with Costello and Martinson?
ReplyDeleteAfter speaking to a friend in the know yesterday it’s pretty obvious Ernst has his fingerprints all over this. We all know he hates Martinson, and I heard that again yesterday. Chad may have been caught up in that, and a conversation between a couple of people brought out Ernst making comments about Martinson again to a certain someone. Sounds confusing but want to leave out names.
ReplyDeleteThe affiliate conversation is still an unknown. Over the years ownership had destroyed what Martinson built with affiliates, thus the changes. Seattle actually wanted to stay but only if Martinson was staying. Who will be involved in those negotiations will probably not be the new coach is my guess. You might be lucky to even have one this year.
More than likely there is no hope of the Americans. Erie has not been a great OHL team, 21/22 27-37 (9th), 22/23 21-40 (last), 23/24 33-28 (5th). After looking up their stats the press release seems laughable. You have to go back to 2017 to find success and Adams was not the head coach. This new coach was actually fired January LAST YEAR so what has he been doing? Whatever “strong candidates” they had, (Unfortunately none of us will ever know) with this being the best, makes you wonder with Zawyer and Ernst involved who else even applied. Would not surprise me if we end up with a team nobody recognizes this year. The American’s will be “chasing victories” all right, how many is debatable, but not “crafting champions. Jack also claimed he knew nothing about hockey but Martinson was at least able to put a decent team together while being stabbed in the back over the years.
Adams was fired and hired for losing, Costello was fired for winning.
Very true! read all the comments from the prior post, its clear Adams is Zawyers guy. That being said, I'm not sure he fully understands what transpired, what he is now in the middle of, so it's a tough situation all round.
DeleteZawyer is the new sheriff in town, Jack the face (doing everything Zawyer says), Adams unfortunately is just in a tough situation.
I don't hold it personally against him, he's a coach wanting a job, but time will tell if he is a puppet as others have alluded to.
Good luck trying to get players to actually play here
ReplyDeleteI expect our team to have a handful or less returning from last season. Some have already been vocal.
DeleteThis sounds like the story from The Producers
ReplyDeleteHow long is the arena lease?
ReplyDeleteHire a cheap coach, try and sell as many tickets based on the residual value of the Americans brand, make as much cash as possible.
Then move
Honestly, what have the Jack's done?
DeleteAdmittedly, they started the season late, so did our run, but we (Costello/Gens/Players) got things done to make the playoffs, at almost ridiculous odds. Guys we loved were cut, put on the side for a trade we had to make etc.
Im not aware of anyone, in hundreds of messages/calls/discussions over the past 2 weeks, that can actually tell me one thing the Jack's have done. Not one.
Given their first chance with Zawyer to effect change (because they didn't do it in the last 9 months), they fire 2 coaches amongst a multitude of other changes. Actually, let me take that back, an Allen legend.
Funny how when Costello had his jersey retired, there was not one single post on the ECHL website about it. Allen published info, kinda because they had to, but the ECHL ... they couldn't give two hoots.
Why?
Ernst.
Ernst and Zawyer have been more than a month in the making.
Zawyer - for profit.
Jacks - capital contribution (tax write off). Good story to tell with NFL money.
Have the Jack's pushed Allen and the EDC to update the concessions, do better, restructure the lease?, threaten to move the team? The Allen Event Center needs the Americans.
All talk folks. We're just going to have to let it be. the writing is on the wall.
Totally agree. Can just hope Ernst see this following and knows he’s not very well liked or wanted🤬
ReplyDeleteAdams is the puppet that Zawyer wanted; he is coming into a hostile environment. It is hard to take the position of give him a chance. His record says a lot and it’s not good. Costello will always be a legend here and I am embarrassed with how he has been treated. I know he will land on his feet. I just wonder if the Americans will.
ReplyDeleteI'm not thrilled about the hire, but give him a chance. Not like we've been doing great lately. If he wins, the fans will love him. Winning cures all.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm curious Barry, did you inform him of what most of the fans think about this bonehead move or send him the blog link so he can read for himself?
ReplyDeleteThat's just about the funniest comment I've seen in a while.
DeleteDo you really think he gives a crap about what a few disgruntled fans think? Your a clown!
DeleteA few? You’re delusional.
DeleteIt’s reverberated to sponsors also.
Don’t be naive.
Barry, or other readers.. I see Serron Noel as one of Allen’s protected players on the ECHL site. Is this an error on whoever wrote the article, or is Noel now with Allen (or should I say is he with Allen FOR now)??
ReplyDeleteWhen Newfoundland folded they owed Allen a player as the future consideration when the Americans sent defenseman Joe Gatenby to the Growlers. The rights to Serron Noel were sent to Allen to satisfy the future consideration.
DeleteThank you Barry for all you do for the fans. Truly appreciate you Scott
ReplyDeleteBarry….same sentiments as Scott. This has been a tough situation and you have done great!
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder based on what appears to be a "thin" coaching pool this off season, whether it would have been in Zawyers best interest to let Costello complete his final year.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely appears to be slim pickings out there from an experienced coach standpoint.
Adams could surprise us, but there are obvious concerns as to being fired and being out of a HC role in any reputable league for over a year.
Makes you wonder and ponder for a moment.