Report: Red Wings assistant coach Granato to leave for Wisconsin Badgers head coaching gig
8 years ago
According to multiple reports, it looks like Tony Granato’s time with the Red Wings is coming to an end – to move to another red-and-white clad team after this season.
Today, John Buccigross tweeted that Granato favours an NCAA return, moving back to his alma mater at Wisconsin.
Granato has been working as a Wings assistant for the past two seasons, and had previously been the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche in two separate stints.
If the reports are correct, Granato replaces former NHLer Mike Eaves, who had been at the head of the men’s hockey program at Wisconsin for 14 seasons.
Via Andy Baggot on the Wisconsin Athletics website, athletic director Barry Alvarez said it was the right time for a change, as Eaves was let go earlier in the week.
“I told Mike I appreciated the work he’s done here,” Alvarez said. “I also told him that we have great tradition and standards here in hockey. He’s the gate-keeper of hockey. I’m the gate-keeper of the department. We both have a responsibility.
“After last season, because of the success we’ve had in the past, we felt that Mike had earned a chance to get the ship righted. But now, after back-to-back seasons like the last two we’ve had, I feel we need a change.”
Wisconsin has yet to make a formal announcement. The team’s season ended on March 17th with a loss in the Big Ten Tournament to Penn State.
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