Coach Moore takes hockey in new direction

By Sara Eisenhauer
Cardinal Staff

For the last 32 years, one thing has been consistent about men’s hockey at Saint Mary’s University- the leadership of Coach Don Olson. That will change this year, since Olson stepped down to take over as Athletic Director at the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.
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SMU Athletic Director Nikki Fennern knew finding an appropriate replacement for Olson would be a difficult task.

“You don’t replace someone like Coach Olson – he’s a legend,” said Fennern. “We wanted someone who would be a good coach, someone with knowledge of the game of hockey and someone who is good with the student athletes.”

Fennern believes they have found that in Bill Moore, who assumed the position of head coach for the 2008-09 season. Moore has coached high school hockey in the Twin Cities for the last 22 years, and prior to that he coached the SMU men’s soccer team and was assistant coach to men’s hockey. He also served as interim head coach in 1990 for Olson.

Moore believes being head coach will be a new challenge for his career, especially when implementing changes within the program. Coming into a team that was 9-14-2 last season, Moore wants to re-establish discipline within the team.

Moore said in the past “there were areas of discipline that we need to recreate to get the most out of the players’ skills.”

The changes Moore has made will take some getting used to for players. He wants to eliminate bad penalties that will negatively impact the team. With this change, players could lose ice time for taking unnecessary penalties.

“We want to be aggressive, but we want to be disciplined about it,” said Moore.

Moore respects the way Olson headed the men’s hockey team but believes he can bring fresh ideas to strengthen the program.

“It’s just a different philosophy and different way to run the program,” said Moore.

Moore also believes in upholding SMU’s strong tradition of academic excellence. As a teacher for 21 years, Moore values athletes’ success inside the classroom and on the ice.

“They are here to be students first and athletes second,” said Moore.

This year, 60 players tried out for the team. Although it is a great number for the program, it also made Moore’s varsity roster decisions very difficult. Though the team is young, Moore is confident in the team he and his coaching staff have assembled.

In implementing changes, Moore attributes some success to Assistant Coach J. Reszka, who has helped link the players with the new coaching staff and the changes in the program. Moore also values newly-appointed Assistant Coach Tom Peart, who will work specifically with the goaltenders this season.

Replacing a staff member like Olson was difficult for the SMU Athletic Department, but Fennern believes Moore has fit into his role well and has earned respect from his colleagues.

“Coach Moore is a team player in hockey and a team player in the department,” said Fennern. “He’s going to help the department grow.”

Though Moore has not coached college hockey for many years, he feels that he can carry on the tradition of Cardinal hockey. Fennern agrees and is confident in the direction he is taking the program.

“Coach Moore has such an intense passion for Saint Mary’s– the love he has is priceless,” said Fennern. “I’m really excited about the continuation of a good tradition in men’s hockey.”