Bowling Green State University Athletics
Danton Cole Named Head Coach At Alabama-Huntsville
May 01, 2007 | Ice Hockey
May 1, 2007
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Former Bowling Green State University assistant hockey coach Danton Cole was named the head coach at Alabama-Huntsville Tuesday afternoon. Cole, who was at Bowling Green this past season replaces former Falcon Doug Ross, who was the Chargers head coach for the past 25 years.
"I want to thank Coach (Scott) Paluch and Greg Christopher the A.D. at Bowling Green for giving me the opportunity to get back into college hockey," said Cole. "I certainly thank them as they've been wonderful supporters. It was tough leaving Bowling Green but I did want to get back to being a head coach and this is a great spot and some good things are going to happen."
Spending the last season as assistant coach at Bowling Green State University, Cole was responsible for the Falcons' defensemen leading five of their six regulars to new career-bests in points.
"I want to thank Danton for his leadership and professionalism this past year," said BGSU head coach Scott Paluch. "We wish him the best of luck in his new role at Alabama-Huntsville."
A Pontiac, Mich., native, he suited up for Michigan State for four seasons where he still holds the career record with 180 games played during his span. Advancing to the Frozen Four three out of four years including winning a national title as a Spartan, Cole notched 163 points (69g, 94a) and was honored with the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1989 as MSU's top male student-athlete in both scholarship and achievement.
A Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 during his six years in the NHL, Cole joins the UAH family with a wealth of head coaching experience in professional hockey. With a career record of 222-126-27, Cole spent three seasons (2002-04) with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), the top farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, where he became the all-time winningest coach in team history with a record of 116-72-17. Following his stint with the Griffins, he spent two seasons with the Motor City Mechanics (UHL), where he coached former Charger standout Jared Ross. Cole led the Mechanics to a 58-32-6 mark during his tenure.
"Two things on his resume impressed the Dickens out of me" remarked UAH Director of Athletics Jim Harris. "He was a three-time All-CCHA Academic Team member and that rings well with what we do here at UAH. He was also a Big Ten Medal of Honor winner while at Michigan State. That certainly leads toward our UAH philosophy of the true student-athlete concept of student first and to continue the integrity of bringing the student here for the highest possible degree of education as well as winning championships for UAH."
