New Mounds View girls' hockey coach Pete Aus admits he does not know all of his players' names, but then, he just took the job late last week.
Former coach Tom Foley resigned after seven games (5-2), leading Mounds View activities director Bob Madison to bring in a veteran coach such as Aus to stabilize the situation.
"No girls left the program but it was a stressful, strenuous situation," Madison said. "Pete brings that guiding force, experience and wisdom that I think will be beneficial to the program."
Aus coached men's hockey at Bethel University for 13 seasons and retired in 2007 as the program's career leader in victories. Before taking over at Mounds View, he was in his fourth season as an assistant coach for Blaine's boys' hockey team, coached by his son, Dave.
Madison played hockey at Bethel with Dave and was hired to join Pete's coaching staff there before taking the activities director job at Mounds View. Madison called Pete to ask if he knew any interested candidates, never imagining Aus would be one.
"I'm excited about it," said Aus, 69, who has previous experience working with girls as an assistant lacrosse coach at Roseville. "I guess I bring old age and some experience. I'm not going to overreact to things."
A calm demeanor helped Aus in his Mounds View coaching debut. The Mustangs trailed Park of Cottage Grove 3-0 in the first period last Saturday before posting a 4-3 comeback victory in overtime.
"I just told them I was proud of them," Aus said. "What a great way to start."
Aus expects to coach just this season, "But," he added, "you never say never."
Blaine hires lacrosse coaches
Co-head coaches Jeff Bruder and Dennis Osbeck will direct Blaine's girls' lacrosse team this season.
Bruder served as the Bengals' junior varsity coach last season. Osbeck, currently coaching junior varsity girls' hockey at Champlin Park, has been involved in Blaine area youth girls' lacrosse for five years.
SCHOOL | 2010-2011 COACH | 2011-2012 COACH |
---|---|---|
Academy of Holy Angles | Jaime Grossman | Jon Dundore |
Alexandria | Mitch Loch | Andy Shriver |
Bemidji | Matt Menne | Bob Brink |
Brainerd/Little Falls | Rod Peltoma | Stephanie Sustercich |
Breck | Len Vannelli | Chris Peterson |
Chaska/Chanhassen | Chris Erickson | Tracy Cassano |
Cretin-Derham Hall | Steve Williams | John Pohl |
Detroit Lakes | Dan Maloney | Gretchen Norby |
East Ridge | Tony Hoops | Craig Norwich |
Eden Prairie | Tim Morris | Jaime Grossman |
Faribault | Gretchen Dahl | Steve Gravgaard |
Forest Lake | Jeff Neidt | Ryan Sauter |
Lake of the Woods/Rainy River/Indus | Katie Hasbargen | April Beckel |
Lakeville South | Perry Wilkinson | Natalie Darwitz |
Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato | Brian Johnson | Hannah Impola |
Minneapolis Novas | John Wareham | Pat Meacham |
Mound-Westonka | Bob Kuehl | Chris Erickson |
Mounds View | Tom Foley | Pete Aus |
Orono | Kevin Armstrong | Keith Radloff |
Park Rapids | Chris Albee | Gary Vaudrin |
Pequot Lakes | Regan Rudbeck | Bryan Henricks |
Prior Lake | Jaime Grossman | Todd Johnson |
Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper | Joel Zejdlik | Kevin Gray |
Rochester John Marshall | Steve Russell | Bob Montrose |
Rosemount | Tracy Cassano | Josh Hoekstra and Trent Eigner |
St. Cloud | Joel Heitkamp and Mark Chamernick | Mark Chamernick |
St. Louis Park | Mike Knoke | Donnie Williams |
St. Paul Blades | Sarma Ozmen | Jeff Hauer |
St. Paul United | Ted Cheesebrough | Carrie Holldorf |
Windom | Shawn Veenker | Dean Drahota |