Ferguson reaches milestone

Published on January 17, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release

Des Moines head coach and general manager Bob Ferguson notched his 500th USHL coaching victory on Saturday night as the Buccaneers defeated the St. Louis Heartland Eagles, 2-1.

Already the league's winningest coach, Ferguson became the charter member of the USHL's 500-victory club with the win. In his 17 USHL seasons behind the bench, Ferguson has posted a career record of 500-292-36. Including his professional coaching experience in the IHL and the ECHL, Ferguson has totalled more than 700 career victories.

"I didn't know about No. 500 until my staff told me," said Ferguson. "It's a nice number to be sure but right now we're just focused on getting the Buccaneers into the playoff hunt."

Ferguson began his USHL coaching career in 1981-82 with the Sioux City Musketeers. That season, his first as a head coach at any level, Ferguson claimed the Anderson and Clark Cup championships. He remained in Sioux City until the 1990-91 season when he assumed head coaching duties with the Des Moines Buccaneers. He culminated a five-year stint in Des Moines by claiming junior hockey's Triple Crown championship (the Anderson, Clark and Gold Cups) in 1994-95.

Ferguson then commenced his professional coaching career with the IHL's Indianapolis Ice and, later, the ECHL's Florida Everblades. Ferguson's professional teams finished with a winning percentage below .500 just once in five seasons.

In 2001-02, Ferguson returned to the USHL, and the Des Moines organization. He posted a 32-24-5 record that season, 27 wins the following year and currently has 15 victories to his credit in 2003-04.

Ferguson is a four-time USHL Coach of the Year (1994-95, 1991-92, 1989-90 and 1985-86). He shared the award in 1991-92 with Omaha's Mike Guentzel.

United States Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2004

• Ferguson reaches milestone - USHL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.