Badgers Turn To Red Wings Assistant Granato To Lead Hockey
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Tony Granato is the new head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.
Granato returns to his alma mater after more than 27 years in the NHL as a player, assistant or head coach. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez planned to formally welcome Granato at a Wednesday news conference in Madison.
Granato was in his second season as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. He had two stints as a head coach with the Colorado Avalanche, and played 13 years in the NHL, skating for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
He's now charged with reviving a program that has won six national titles, but finished well below .500 the past couple of seasons.
The Badgers have struggled in the new Big Ten hockey league, and Mike Eaves was fired after 14 seasons at Wisconsin.
Alvarez hopes the hiring of Granato returns luster to the program.
"This hire will knock your socks off," Alvarez said on social media, along with a picture of a pair of red-and-white Wisconsin socks.
Granato was a two-time All-American at Wisconsin, and a finalist for the 1987 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He was a four-time, 30-goal scorer in the NHL.
Wisconsin has also hired Granato's brother, Don Granato, and Mark Osiecki as associate head coaches. Don Granato and Osiecki also played at Wisconsin.
Don Granato comes to Madison after nearly five seasons as head coach with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He was also an assistant with the St. Louis Blues in 2005-06.
Osiecki was an associate head coach at Rockford in the AHL. He was head coach at Ohio State from 2010-13 following a six-year stint as an assistant coach at Wisconsin. Osiecki played parts of two seasons in the NHL.
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