Nailers Name Mark French as New Coach
Trending
WHEELING — The Wheeling Nailers head coaching search has ended.
Team Governor Don Rigby formally announced Mark French as the 19th head coach in franchise history during a virtual press conference Monday afternoon.
“Mark has had tremendous success throughout his career,” Rigby said. “He’s put winning teams on the ice and developed NHL talent.”
French, who most recently was the head coach of HC Fribourg-Gotteron in Switzerland, takes over for Mike Bavis. Bavis was fired as head coach in late March after the Nailers finished the COVID-19 shortened season with a 24-30-5 record.
“We feel extremely fortunate to have a coach of Mark’s caliber in our organization,” Rigby said.
It’s been a lengthy journey, for French, back to the ECHL. He began his professional coaching career in the league with Atlantic City in 2004-05.
Since then, French has made his rounds among pro hockey both on North American and European soil.
“I am certainly happy to be part of the Wheeling organization,” French said. “I am looking forward to the challenge of coaching in the ECHL and just proud to be a part of the Penguins’ affiliation.”
Because of the on-going pandemic and no certain starting date established for the 2020-21 season, French has yet to visit Wheeling. All of the interviews and meetings have taken place virtually.
“It’s been since my days with Atlantic City that I’ve been to Wheeling,” French confessed. “In talking with Don and (alternate governor) Brian (Komorowski), they obviously made me aware of the updates of the arena since that time.”
The ultimate attraction to the job, for French, was quite simple. And it had nothing to do with ammenities at WesBanco Arena.
“Don and Brian’s excitement and passion to put a winning team on the ice is what excites me about this job,” French said. “The conversations and interviews with them really motivated me.”
French was also attracted to being able to work as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
“I have always looked at my career in stages and it had been a dream of mine to come back and coach the North American game, so I was looking for an opportunity where I could challenge myself as a coach and work for an organization that would allow me to be successful and be part of an even greater organization,” French said.
After his stop in Atlantic City, French landed his first professional head coaching job with the Wichita Thunder of the CHL. He led that team to a pair of playoff berths before accepting an assistant coaching position with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.
He was promoted to the organization’s head coach for the 2009-10 season and led the Bears to the Calder Cup and a league-record for wins with 60.
Despite just four seasons at the helm, before heading overseas, French still ranks third in AHL history for winning percentage among coaches with at least 300 career games.
French said there are some minor differences between the styles of hockey played in North America compared to what’s played in Europe. He plans to blend the two styles for the Nailers.
“One thing you have to do is be adaptable,” French said. “I have a lot of different experiences at different levels with different ages (of players), so I’m going to try to make things fit together for this level.”