I did the following interview when I published The Hockey 
Coach's Bulletin (HCB) back in 1991. I understand its an 
oldie but offers a different perspective on coaching than 
most of us are used too.


SHAWN WALSH INTERVIEW

 NCAA  DIVISION  1  COACH  of  U.  of 
 MAINE BLACK BEARS

 I contacted Shawn Walsh in late August, 1991. Shawn 
gave me a very informative 20 minute phone interview. I'm sure his 
influence will rub off on you as it did to me.

I met Shawn at a coaching symposium. His lecture, video work and 
on-ice demonstrations was interesting and informative.If you ever get 
a chance to attend a symposium or function with Shawn Walsh as a
speaker, attend it! 




HCB: What has made you a successful coach?

WALSH: You must enjoy what you are doing. I enjoy it to the
extent that when I arrive at the office, it's not work,
its fun. It's a day to day challenge helping kids grow and
making them better.

HCB: How do you prepare yourself and the team for each game?

WALSH: We usually have four days to prepare for a weekend 
series. We practice Monday through Thursday and play on 
Friday and Saturday. Monday and Tuesday,we work on skill 
development, team play, and individual skill drills. Two
days before the game we zero in on the upcoming opponent.

HCB: When you work on skill development drills, how do you keep
it interesting for the kids?

WALSH: You must put parameters in there that force them to 
be challenged. Make it competitive with chasers or time.
You have to have fun with them too. The same things that
make a coach tick,make players tick.

HCB: What type of relationship do you have with the players?

WALSH: I like to be firm with them, but at the same time,
talk to them one on one. Have them open up with their
problems. What we do during road trips is meet with each 
player on the bus. I don't want to know what they like,
I want to know what they don't like. A coach has to have a
handle on the thermometer of the team. The only way you get
that is by one on one meetings.

HCB: I understand you are a good promoter for your team. What
are some of your promoting ideas?

WALSH: We are in a environment that allows good promotions.
It's a market where we are a dominating force. With state
wide, and regional television, the exposure is high. The 
local paper covers us daily. I saw the area as a place you
could really do something with promotions.

The best way to promote your team is to get them involved 
in the community,meet people, help little kids. We run 
events like a "Skate with the Bears" and "Run with the 
Bears" which is a five mile road race. Anytime the people
can meet the players with their helmets off is a good 
promotional technique.

HCB: Is this enforced upon the players?

WALSH: Oh yeah! They get used to it. Part of coming to a 
college for them is growing up away from hockey. It's 
important that we have players meet the public and learn to
speak in public. I have the freshmen get up and introduce
themselves, explain where they have been, their highlights,
things they like,as many times as possible.

Another function we have is a "Super Supper", where the 
players weight on our fans. It gives the people a chance to
meet the team.

HCB: Is there a large turn out for such a event?

WALSH: Yes. It's a great fund raiser and we also have alot
of fun. We run it right on the floor of the arena before
the ice is laid. People get a feeling being inside the 
arena right on the blueline. They could never be there
otherwise.

HCB: Your teams always have a strong chemistry of players.
What is your recruiting process?

WALSH: There is so many players that want to play for 
division 1 schools. The key is the selection process itself.
I'm fortunate enough to have one of the best recruiters in 
the game in terms of eye for talent. My assistant coach, 
Grant Stambrooke is in charge of recruiting.Grant handles 
the initial looking and a lot of the decision making. He 
was Bob Johnson's assistant at Wisconsin for twelve years.

HCB: What geographic area do you cover?

WALSH: New England, the east, Quebec, we go all over now. 
With the success of our program, we've become a national 
team in a sense. Kids know we have a successful program.

The key to recruiting is not the recruiting itself. It's to
follow through on your promises you made when your players
get there. Your current players are your real recruiters. 
If you take care of your players, they will tell the next 
class to play here because of how they were treated.
They are the most important recruiters.

HCB: How do you conduct your tryouts?

WALSH: I want to see them skate with the puck and without, 
and skate with some agility. It's important to allow enough
space so you can watch players individually. Even if it 
means to slow it down a bit.

Secondly, I like to put them through simple team play 
situations to see how they interact with others. 3 on 3's 
and 2 on 2's on full ice are great. Give them a chance to 
show what they can do.

HCB: Who runs these drills?

WALSH: I have assistants run the tryout part of it. I 
observe the returning players and the recruited freshmen
on scholarship.

HCB: How do you keep track of all these players on the ice at one
time?

WALSH: We give them a penny with a number on it to identify
them. Most of the players are pre-selected. Rarely will we
have a kid from off the street.

HCB: Do you accept letters of recommendation from coaches?

WALSH: I accept them but there are so many out there. I'm 
more interested in the player's track record and level of 
play he is coming out of. Remember,there are sleepers out 
there like Jim Dowd!


HCB: OK Shawn. I think I used up enough of your time. I appreciate
the interview.

WALSH: No problem Dan. If you need anything else, feel free
to call.

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