Multiple sources expect that Fairbanks assistant coach Karlis Zirnis could be named the head coach at Alabama-Huntsville, replacing Mike Corbett.
Zirnis is a UAH alum who has been an assistant at Alaska Fairbanks. He’s believed to be one of the top choice of some of the bigger donors that, combined with a crowdfunding effort, raised about $750,000 to save the UAH program earlier this month. The donors contributed about one-third of that amount on their own.
Corbett was a finalist for the open assistant job at UVM but that sounds like its going to AIC assistant Stephen Wiedler, sources tell NZ. Corbett could land at Robert Morris along with Ryan Durocher, who has been with Sioux City (USHL) and was previously working at St. Lawrence.
Cashman hiring Jason Tapp and Stavros Paskaris has opened up positions at Union and Princeton. Yale’s search is quiet — remember, the school currently has a hiring freeze.
The Dartmouth news is interesting because both of their assistants are veterans with a good track record and a lot of experience. David Lassonde, in particular, is regarded as one of the best assistant coaches in the country. You look at his track record and he’s been on staffs that have won gold and silver at the World Junior Championships and he’s been part of five Frozen Four teams over his career. He’s been a full-time college assistant for 28 years and has been to 20 NCAA Tournaments with stops at Wisconsin, Miami, UNH and Denver before arriving at Dartmouth in 2014.
Mercyhurst is down to two finalists for its open position.
Here is a current list of openings, with notes on potential hires in parenthesis:
Alabama-Huntsville (HC) (Sources believe Fairbanks assistant Karlis Zirnis is the front-runner to be hired)
Mercyhurst (The school is down to two finalists)
Vermont (AIC’s Stephen Wiedler expected to be hired to round out the staff)
Minnesota Duluth (Derek Plante is believed to be returning to the program)
Robert Morris (Mike Corbett and Ryan Durocher believed to be the hires)
Union (1 assistant opening)
Army (1 assistant opening)
Yale: (1 assistant opening, school currently has a hiring freeze)
AIC (1 assistant opening)
Colgate (1 assistant opening)
LIU (2 assistant openings)
