Osiecki Takes Head Coaching Job At Ohio State

Wisconsin took it's first huge hit off the off season (with respect to Kevin Patrick) on Saturday afternoon when it was announced that top Wisconsin Assistant Coach Mark Osiecki would be taking over the head coaching duties at The Ohio State University. Osiecki replaces John Markell, who's contract wasn't renewed.

Coach Osiecki has been apart of the Badger hockey program for the last six seasons. He is the recruiting coordinator and in charge of coaching our world renowned defensive core. Osiecki was a part of two Frozen Four teams while at Wisconsin including one National Championship team in 2006. Osiecki also won a National Championship as an assistant coach at North Dakota in 1997. Osiecki has head coaching experience, as he was the head coach and General Manager for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL for seven seasons.

As a player, Osiecki won a National Championship with Wisconsin in 1990. He was a three year letter winner with the Badgers before taking his game to the National Hockey League. Osiecki spent six seasons in the NHL with four teams before an injury ended his career.

Osiecki also has experience internationally. The 1994 graduate from the University of Wisconsin was an assistant with Team USA at the 1999 and 2000 World U18 Championships where the United States won silver medals. Osiecki also recently won a gold medal with the USA U-20 squad at the World Junior Championships in Regina.

The loss of Osiecki puts the Badgers in an unusual situation, as now they need to replace both assistant coaches. Last month it was announced that the other Badgers assistant coach, Kevin Patrick would be taking the head coaching job with the new expansion USHL franchise in Muskegon, MI.

As a Wisconsin hockey fan, the loss of Mark Osiecki scares the hell out of me. We all knew that this day would come eventually but I don't think any of us prepped ourselves enough for this. Coach Osiecki is THE top assistant coach in the country and it's going to be extremely tough to fill his shoes. He was a the point where his name alone was good enough to land elite defensive recruits who wanted to learn from him.

I would personally like to congratulate coach OZ and like to thank him for his time in Madison. He's been absolutely OUTSTANDING since he's been on our coaching staff. He will be tough to replace.

Coach Osiecki finalist for OSU Position

Per CHN:

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2010/04/21_ohiostate.php

Ohio State is completing interviews this week, and could name a coach as early as next week.

Ohio State is the last of three CCHA schools that had head coaching openings to name its choice. Western Michigan went with former Miami assistant Jeff Blashill, while Bowling Green subsequently went with Miami assistant Chris Bergeron.

Ohio State had been expected to attempt a run for a big name or at least current, experienced head coach. But whether by choice or because it was turned down, that appears not to be the case. Those interviewed include three current Division I assistants — Mark Osiecki of Wisconsin, Casey Jones of Cornell (an assistant at Ohio State under John Markell for 13 seasons before departing for his alma mater two years ago), and Boston College assistant Mike Cavanaugh.

Osiecki has head coaching experience in the USHL. Jones and Cavanaugh have not been head coaches before.

Coach Oz is a huge part of our recruiting, and is THE reason that we consistently turn out such a solid D-corps. Every time a Badger blueliner gets drafted, the NHL GM makes comments about how well defensemen develop at UW, and you know that has a huge benefit for recruiting.

We know Coach Oz might have his sights set higher, and certainly we will wish him the best if he chooses to become the OSU bench boss. But, for my own selfish reasons as a UW fan, I sure hope he can stick around, because he is a huge part of our program's success right now. I can only hope that Coach Eaves has his eye on a dynamite successor if Osiecki leaves.

"The season is right around the corner!" & other random items

• Profiles have finally been added to the Badger Men's roster for incoming players. EDIT: Well, at least most of them, anyway. (This is what I get for initially just checking Justin Schultz.) Right now I see profiles for Schultz, Lee, Meuer, Thompson, and Ramage, with the others (Bennett, C. Smith) still "coming soon".

• It's fitting that the profiles were added yesterday, as yesterday appears to be the 1st day of the season for the hockey staff. Mike Cerniglia tells me his summer is over and "I hope you are looking forward to a great year!!", and Paul Capobianco says "We had our first staff meeting of the year in the hockey office this afternoon. The season is right around the corner!"

• I never noticed this before, but it's down in the very bottom left hand corner of the WCHA website and thus not noticeable when stopping by the site to scan for new articles, so I have no idea how long it may or may not have been there. It's a feature called "The WCHA Coaches Corner" in which WCHA coaches "present instructional information, philosophy, systems of play, and strategies of on-ice game situations. Many different subjects will be introduced in order to assist you in gaining a better understanding of how the game is played in the WCHA."
  
  2 of the first 3 entries are from Badger coaches. KP talks about stickwork, and Oz talks about shot blocking. The other entry, from OSU Women's head coach Jackie Barto, talks about practice plan preparation.

• I had already posted this NY Times Jessie Vetter feature (props to TM), but I had neglected to post a this USA Today feature (props to Boscacci). Both have some nice quotes from Mark Johnson, Team USA teammates, and Vetter.

• I know we posted this USA Today Hilary Knight feature back in June, but I stumbled upon it again while checking out the Vetter article, and I liked it so I thought I'd post it again.
  

• Over on the Blackhawks website, there's a live chat with Adam Burish today at 3 PM. (Props to aktick)

• The Omaha World-Herald has an interesting article about Dean Blais' approach to starting things out at UNO. (Props to Goon)
  

Update from the NJEC

Photos clockwise from top left: a.) #8 Jake Gardiner on D during the Aug 7 Blue/White scrimmage, b.) #22 Derek Stepan in front of the net during the Aug 9 Blue/White scrimmage, c.) #22 Derek Stepan at center ice during the Aug 12 USA/RUS game, and d.) #22 Derek Stepan on the draw during the Aug 11 USA/RUS game. All photos from usahockey.com.

The roster at the National Junior Evaluation Camp has been cut down from 42 to 29 players, and Badgers Derek Stepan and Jake Gardiner have made it past this cut. The camp started with 2 teams -- Blue and White -- and was cut down to a single team (5 defensive pairs, 5 forward lines, 4 goaltenders) prior to the games v. Russia. USA Hockey says they'll continue to evaluate all original camp participants, including those recently sent home.

In their first 2 games v. Russia, the US has won 8-1 and 6-1. There are 2 games remaining. You can find all game results, photos, and highlight videos here.

There are also a couple of videos of the coaching staff that you might find interesting. In this video, head coach Dean Blais and assistant coach Mark Osiecki talk about evaluating kids that have played for them previously. Oz indicates that rather than having a bias for those plays, they're more likely to have a reverse bias. But he does have some nice things to say about Jake Gardiner. And in this video, John Hynes, Mark Osiecki, and Dean Blais discuss speech strategies.

By the way, I'm not sure if I mentioned this previously, but Badger alum Tony Granato is a camp coach, recently departed Badger equipment manager Steve Castelletti is camp equiment manager, and Badger alum Jim Johannson is team GM.

Thursday Odds & Ends

Well, right now I only have 1 item (not sure if it's an odd or an end), but hopefully I'll scrounge up a few more things by the end of the day, and I'll add them in as I find them.

• Andy Baggot reports that Mike Eaves can breathe a sigh of relief because classes have started without any further defections beyond KT and Bill Howard.
  

It's interesting, because he indicates that Howard's departure was not a surprise. While Baggot isn't very clear, I suppose he means that it wasn't a surprise to Eaves, because it sure seemed to shock pretty much everyone else, media included. But it makes sense that Eaves would have had an inkling that this was coming.

And while we know that Kevin Patrick was pursuing head coaching positions this offseason, Baggot also indicates that Mark Osiecki was sought after by college and NHL programs and that strength and conditioning coach Jim Snider turned down a position with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mark Osiecki at US U20 Evaluation Camp

Can't believe I missed this -- looks like Osiecki is one of the camp coaches for the evaluation camp currently underway.

Badger Hockey Paddle and Portage Team

Coaches Mike Eaves and Mark Osiecki will be part of a team in Madison's annual Paddle and Portage across Lake Mendota, portaging past the Capital, and then finishing across Lake Monona. The event takes place tomorrow. GL to both coaches and make sure to stretch out, don't want the kids laughing at you for pulling a hamstring or something.

Thursday morning Badger links

It's getting kind of late but the Badger Hockey Golf Outing is June 26th. Thanks to Todd Milewkski for the link.

Coach Osiecki will be on hand at the NHL draft this weekend while head coach Mike Eaves will be at a prospect camp put on by Anaheim Ducks GM Brain Burke. Link from Andy Bagott.

uwbadgers.com did a sweet Q&A with Josh Engel and Davis Drewiske.

uwbadgers.com also has another video uploaded this time with a stuff on the upcoming NHL draft, and featuring Cody Goloubef.

Minneapolis Star Tribune put out a nice article on Jake Gardiner. Thanks to D-Playa for the link.

This has nothing to do with hockey, but Minnesota football coach Punky Brewster's kid decided to transfer. I love seeing turmoil in the Gopher Nation.

Friday Evening Odds & Ends

• Baggot has a blog post in which he speculates about Mark Osiecki leaving the Badgers to coach with fellow alumnus Tony Granato, who has recently been named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche.
  
  
• AJ Degenhardt has been named head coach of the Twin Cities Northern Lights. Congratulations, AJ! (Edit: Thanks to milzie on uscho for the link!)
  
  
• DPlaya shares his thoughts on Badger line combinations for next season.



• I feel famous. We've received an acknowledgement in The Icehouse's post about AJ Degenhardt.