Search for coach continues

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Craig Bonner, the general manager of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, has
completed the first round of interviews as he searches for a head coach.
Bonner said Thursday that he has interviewed six candidates but that he
isn’t in a real rush to select the team’s next head coach.
“I want to make a decision as soon as possible,” Bonner said, “but the last
thing I want to do is make a decision tomorrow and find out two weeks from
now that someone is available who we missed out on.”
The Blazers are looking to replace Dean Clark, who was fired as general
manager and head coach on Nov. 7. Greg Hawgood took over as head coach on an
interim basis and guided the team through a first-round playoff loss to the
Tri-City Americans.
Hawgood is one of the six candidates to have been interviewed. He and Bonner
got together Monday.
“With the situation he came into last (season),” Bonner said, “I felt he
deserved an interview.”
If Hawgood isn’t selected as head coach, it is expected that he will remain
on staff as an assistant coach. He has one year remaining on his contract.
Bonner said that former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Trent Yawney, who had
expressed interest in the position, isn’t among the interviewees, nor is
Brad Berry, an assistant coach of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.
“He’s comfortable at Manitoba,” Bonner said. “He’s a good friend of mine.
He’s happy where he’s at.”
Bonner now will sit back and go over the information he received during the
interview process.
“I’m going to compile the information and nail things down as soon as
possible,” he said. “I just want to make sure that I don’t kick myself two
weeks from now.”
Bonner said that the fact he has interviewed six candidates doesn’t mean the
door is closed.
“I understand that the people in Kamloops want to know who the coach is . .
. I understand that,” Bonner said. “I’m trying to do the right process and
get the best guy available.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca