Bombers Name McDonald Head Coach
Published on October 3, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release
Dayton, OH- The Dayton Bombers have hired veteran Bill McDonald as head coach, General Manager Don MacAdam announced today.
"I am excited and honored to not only be coming to the ECHL but to the city of Dayton," McDonald said.
McDonald joins the 2007 American Conference Champion Bombers from the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League, where he had spent the last two seasons as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations.
"I've coached professionally long enough to gain experience in all the professional leagues besides the ECHL," said McDonald. "I'm looking forward to coaching a younger flavor of players that are looking to develop in a league of opportunity."
A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, McDonald has coached for 15 years in the CHL, Western Professional Hockey League, International Hockey League and the Colonial Hockey League.
"Bill is well connected in the hockey world," MacAdam said. "He knows how things work at our level, especially with recruiting players."
McDonald has lead teams to six championship appearances, winning four titles in his career.
"Don (MacAdam), Costa (Papista) and Derek Clancy did an incredible job of bringing the team to the finals last year," said McDonald. "This year we would like to follow along the same path and take it one step further."
He ranks second all-time in CHL wins and has been named Coach of the Year in three different leagues (1992-93 in the CoHL, 1996-97 in the CHL and 1997-98 in the WPHL).
"It's important to build on the success of last year," said MacAdam. "Our ability to bring Bill in will go a long way to reach that goal."
McDonald began his coaching career in his hometown of Thunder Bay, coaching the city's CoHL team for four seasons, winning the league championship in his first season in 1992, then back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. He then spent two CHL seasons with the Fort Worth Fire, winning the Ray Miron Cup as league champions in 1997. After taking the Fort Worth Brahmas to the WPHL President's Cup Finals in 1998, McDonald joined the Dallas Stars organization during the 1999-2000 season. McDonald served as assistant coach with the Stars under current Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach Ken Hitchcock. McDonald also coached Dallas' top affiliate, the IHL's Michigan K-Wings for two years.
"Bill's connection with (Ken) Hitchcock and Columbus only further strengthens our relationship with the Blue Jackets," MacAdam said.
In 2000, McDonald returned to the WPHL, leading the Lubbock Cotton Kings to the President's Cup Finals in his first season as coach. He then spent two and a half seasons with the CHL's New Mexico Scorpions before accepting his position in Austin.
As for his newest hockey home, McDonald said that he is excited about "getting out in the public and meeting with all the dedicated fans of Dayton."
The Dayton Bombers are the proud "AA" affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and the AHL's Syracuse Crunch.
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