FireAntz Announce New Head Coach
August 2, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release
[FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.] - The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) announced, at a press conference today, that John Marks has been named the club's new head coach. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club policy.
Marks, 58, joins the FireAntz as one of the most decorated coaches in the history of professional hockey. He is one of only eight coaches, all-time, with over 700 career professional wins. He is joined by Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour, Mike Keenan, John Brophy, Pat Kelly, Tommy McVie, and John Muckler in that exclusive club.
Marks comes to the FireAntz after spending the previous eight seasons with the now-defunct Greenville Grrrowl of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He was with the Charlotte Checkers, also of the ECHL, for the five years prior to that. Marks won ECHL championships with both teams, 1996 in Charlotte and 2002 with Greenville. He is also the all-time leader in wins (466) and games coached (920) in the ECHL.
"This is a tremendous day for the FireAntz organization" said Kevin MacNaught, President and General Manager of the FireAntz. "John Marks is a world class coach and his credentials speak for themselves. The process of finding a new coach became very easy when Marks' name came into the equation."
Marks, also had a 10-year NHL playing career, all with the Chicago Blackhawks from 1972-82.
"I am very excited about the prospects of coaching the FireAntz." Marks added, "Fayetteville is a great organization and their fans deserve a winner. I'm going to do my best to make that happen."
Season tickets for the FireAntz 2006-07 season are still available. The FireAntz open the season on October 27th at the Crown Coliseum against the expansion Richmond Renegades.
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