Jim Montgomery withdraws from Florida Panthers’ coaching vacancy; will return to Denver Pioneers
University of Denver hockey coach Jim Montgomery has withdrawn from the Florida Panthers‘ coaching vacancy and will continue to focus on leading the Pioneers to back-to-back NCAA championships, the coach told The Denver Post on Friday.
“My family and I are very happy here,” Montgomery said in a text message Friday.
Montgomery, who guided DU to its eighth national title April 10 in his fourth season as coach, had two interviews with Florida and also spoke to the Los Angeles Kings before they hired John Stevens. Montgomery’s second interview with the Panthers was Tuesday. In the end, he decided to remain with the Pioneers, who have extended or sweetened his contract twice since last summer — including raises to his entire support staff.
Montgomery, 47, captained Maine to the 1993 NCAA championship and had a 12-year professional playing career, including 122 NHL games with the Blues, Canadiens, Flyers, Sharks and Stars. He has said he prefers the college climate over the NHL when it comes to relationships.
Read the full story at The Denver Post.
Denver Pioneers head hockey coach Jim Montgomery gives final instructions in the locker room at the Broadmoor World Arena before DU played rival Colorado College February 11, 2017. Photo by Andy Cross, The Denver Post.
Denver Pioneers head hockey coach Jim Montgomery gives final instructions in the locker room at the Broadmoor World Arena before DU played rival Colorado College February 11, 2017. Photo by Andy Cross, The Denver Post.
