Good things come to those who wait, and Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter has waited long enough.
Yesterday Richter introduced the Madison media and Badger community to the new head hockey coach, Mike Eaves, ending months of searching for former head coach Jeff Sauer’s replacement.
“It’s been an interesting process, obviously, since the time that Jeff and I started talking about the possibility of him retiring from coaching. The process has culminated in what we think is an outstanding person to take over the ranks,” Richter said. “I think of all of the things I’ve read about Mike ? his enthusiasm. He brings a lot of energy.”
Eaves gained the upper hand in the coaching vacancy, beating out what Richter estimates to be six or seven candidates, including current assistant coach and all-time leading goal-scorer at UW Mark Johnson.
“When we began the process, we wanted to kind of take Jeff [Sauer] and Bob [Johnson] and put them together and combine those types of personalities and their love for the game of hockey and experience,” Richter said. “I think you’ll find that Mike combines a lot of what Bob Johnson had in terms of enthusiasm and love of the game and Jeff has spent so much time nurturing here at Wisconsin. If you look at his background and experience, he has really covered it from every angle you can consider.”
Eaves said he intends to talk to Mark Johnson, his former teammate from 1976-78, about staying on as part of his staff. The two have stayed in touch since their Badger careers ended, and Eaves wants his hockey mind behind the boards with him. Along with Mark Johnson, Eaves said he would talk to other assistant coaching candidates in the near future, but he wants to talk to them first before making his list public.
Until then, Eaves still has a full plate in front of him. Following yesterday’s press conference, the new Badger coach said he was going to address his new team and touch base with them. Then it’s back to Michigan, where Eaves supervises the U.S. National Development Program. The former Badger will fulfill his duties in Ann Arbor and then officially start with the Badgers in early May.
When Eaves’ contract (reportedly a five-year contract worth an estimated $125,000 to $130,000) expires, he will be ending the nomadic lifestyle that has plagued him since he left Wisconsin.
“One thing you learn quickly about this business is that you can’t look too far ahead,” Eaves said. “In the coaching world, like many other businesses, you have to pay your dues, and you have to have different experiences to build your resume up.”
And Eaves has definitely added to his resume since ending his playing career at Wisconsin.
At the conclusion of his collegiate hockey career, Eaves went on to play in the NHL, a career that spanned eight years between the Calgary Flames (five seasons) and the former Minnesota North Stars (three seasons).
Commencing his coaching career in the 1985 season as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Calgary Flames, Eaves has instructed on every level in the sport.
After a season-long stint with the Flames, Eaves traveled to UW-Eau Claire to fill the head coach vacancy, followed by a short jaunt to St. Cloud State as an assistant, with both jobs lasting a single season. He left SCSU when the NHL rang once again.
Eaves was off to Philadelphia to work for the Flyers twice, in 1988-90 and 1993-94, before heading for a high school job from 1994-96.
Scandinavia lit up Eaves’ phone in 1995 and offered him the head coaching position for the Finnish Elite League, which lasted only one season. In 1997, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL needed an assistant once again, and Eaves was on the phone list, accepting the job until 2000 before making his way to the NTDP.
With the reins of the Wisconsin hockey program in his hands, Eaves will now face his greatest challenge: stepping out of the shadow left by a legendary coach.
