nivek_wahs
03-22-2007, 03:34 AM
http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=18301&sc=9
Last updated at 6:03 PM on 21/03/07
Warriors exploring options on head coaching front
MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Matthew Gourlie
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Rene Lemire’s summer plans include getting married and having hip surgery.
What he doesn’t know is if the Moose Jaw Warriors’ future plans will include him.
Lemire posted a 9-11 record as Warriors head coach since taking over from Steve Young who was fired on Feb. 7. The Warriors finished a point out of the playoffs with a 28-41-3-0 record.
“I have no idea where I stand,” said Lemire.
He does know that he will meet with general manager Chad Lang Monday. However, Lemire isn’t the only coach that will sitting down with Lang in the coming weeks and months.
“The process will start Monday,” said Lang. “I will have an opportunity to sit down and have year-end review with Rene and get a feel for what his intentions are moving forward and see how he felt the remaining 20 games went. From there I think in fairness to the process there will be guys applying for the job and there have been a number of guys applying already.
“I will go through some applications and I’m sure that I will sit down and do some one-on-one interviews with some potential guys and move forward from there.”
While the Warriors’ head coaching position is effectively vacant, Lang acknowledges that Lemire’s experience in the job, in the organization and with the players is a definite factor in his favour.
“Rene is a part of this organization and we’re going to give him every opportunity,” said Lang. “But in fairness to our organization we’re going to do our due diligence and explore all of our options to make sure we have the right guy in the position.”
Lemire joined the Warriors in the 2004-05 season when Young, then the assistant himself, took over for Parry Shockey mid-season.
When Lemire followed as a late-season replacement he tried to implement his systems and work on correcting areas he saw of deficiencies.
“It’s not easy taking a team with 20 games left in the season,” said Lemire. “I did the best I could and if that wasn’t good enough — I’ll still feel good about it.
“After talking to the players one-on-one Monday I got some good personal feedback. If they’re b.s.ing me they’re doing a good job of it. I got some great feedback from the players and that’s what matters the most. They liked the changes I had made, they liked the direction the club was going. That tone — and that was 23 guys — that was not the same tone that was there when I took over.”
The goal when Lemire took the reigns was to make the playoffs. While he fell shy of that mark, Lang credited Lemire for the way the team performed down the stretch.
“I thought Rene did a very good job given he was put in a not very good situation being 10 points out of the playoffs with 20 games left,” said Lang. “He implemented his systems and put his spin on the club and since he only had a month and a half I thought he did a good job. I thought the players responded pretty well under him.”
That still may not be enough for him to become head coach on a full-time basis. Lang doesn’t expect to make a decision or announce a new coach until after the Memorial Cup.
“There are still guys who are battling in the playoffs with their teams and are under contract and those are often the guys you want to be in discussion with,” said Lang. “I think we’ll have a decision by June.”
Last updated at 6:03 PM on 21/03/07
Warriors exploring options on head coaching front
MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Matthew Gourlie
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Rene Lemire’s summer plans include getting married and having hip surgery.
What he doesn’t know is if the Moose Jaw Warriors’ future plans will include him.
Lemire posted a 9-11 record as Warriors head coach since taking over from Steve Young who was fired on Feb. 7. The Warriors finished a point out of the playoffs with a 28-41-3-0 record.
“I have no idea where I stand,” said Lemire.
He does know that he will meet with general manager Chad Lang Monday. However, Lemire isn’t the only coach that will sitting down with Lang in the coming weeks and months.
“The process will start Monday,” said Lang. “I will have an opportunity to sit down and have year-end review with Rene and get a feel for what his intentions are moving forward and see how he felt the remaining 20 games went. From there I think in fairness to the process there will be guys applying for the job and there have been a number of guys applying already.
“I will go through some applications and I’m sure that I will sit down and do some one-on-one interviews with some potential guys and move forward from there.”
While the Warriors’ head coaching position is effectively vacant, Lang acknowledges that Lemire’s experience in the job, in the organization and with the players is a definite factor in his favour.
“Rene is a part of this organization and we’re going to give him every opportunity,” said Lang. “But in fairness to our organization we’re going to do our due diligence and explore all of our options to make sure we have the right guy in the position.”
Lemire joined the Warriors in the 2004-05 season when Young, then the assistant himself, took over for Parry Shockey mid-season.
When Lemire followed as a late-season replacement he tried to implement his systems and work on correcting areas he saw of deficiencies.
“It’s not easy taking a team with 20 games left in the season,” said Lemire. “I did the best I could and if that wasn’t good enough — I’ll still feel good about it.
“After talking to the players one-on-one Monday I got some good personal feedback. If they’re b.s.ing me they’re doing a good job of it. I got some great feedback from the players and that’s what matters the most. They liked the changes I had made, they liked the direction the club was going. That tone — and that was 23 guys — that was not the same tone that was there when I took over.”
The goal when Lemire took the reigns was to make the playoffs. While he fell shy of that mark, Lang credited Lemire for the way the team performed down the stretch.
“I thought Rene did a very good job given he was put in a not very good situation being 10 points out of the playoffs with 20 games left,” said Lang. “He implemented his systems and put his spin on the club and since he only had a month and a half I thought he did a good job. I thought the players responded pretty well under him.”
That still may not be enough for him to become head coach on a full-time basis. Lang doesn’t expect to make a decision or announce a new coach until after the Memorial Cup.
“There are still guys who are battling in the playoffs with their teams and are under contract and those are often the guys you want to be in discussion with,” said Lang. “I think we’ll have a decision by June.”