Coach Williams

[player]

rumour on the other forum he is resigning? any truth to this.. confirmation from Da.. or Ct who are with the cyclone org.

[homer]

Was Coach Williams a Culliton player a few years back?

[wondering]

whats the other forum?

[news]

It's fact - news release today reported in the Stratford Beacon

Dave Williams can’t quite answer why he’s resigning as coach and general manager of the Listowel Cyclones.

He just believes the time is right.

“It’s a tough one to explain, but now just seemed like the right time to step down,” Williams said Tuesday after the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League club announced the change in a news release.

“It’s nice to step down when things are going well and things are in place for the organization to continue on in good shape next year. I feel comfortable with the decision. I’ve enjoyed my three years with the team.”

Regan Stocco, who Williams brought in as an associate coach in May of last year, will take over as coach and general manager next season, according to the team. Stocco, 30, is a Guelph native who coached the Dominators in 2003-04 and has been an assistant with the OHL’s Guelph Storm and the Junior B Kitchener Dutchmen (2004-05).

Williams, a Stratford resident and Listowel high school teacher, was hired in Listowel as assistant two seasons ago, then promoted to head coach when Fred Norman was fired halfway through the season.

The following year, 2004-05, he guided the team to an unlikely Midwestern League championship from seventh place in the regular-season, handing the Stratford Cullitons their first-ever opening-round defeat, and knocking off first-place Kitchener in the second round.

This year Williams added general manager to his title, taking over from the retired Neil McKeown. The playoffs turned out to be almost as dramatic as the previous year with the Cyclones rallying from a 1-3 deficit to defeat Elmira in the first round, then leading first-place Cambridge 3-2 in games before falling in double overtime in Game 7.

“Dave’s done a great,” said club president Don Annett. “We were lucky to get him when we did as an assistant, and he was well worthy of the role of coach and then general manager when he took those over.

“It’s somewhat of a surprise (to see him leave) and I think it was a tough decision for him. It’s a big loss to the team, but he did set things up quite well for us and Regan is extremely qualified to carry on his roles. We wish Dave all the best. I don’t think anybody knows for sure where he’s going but he’ll have no problem getting a job coaching if he ever decides to come back to it.”

Williams said he brought Stocco to the team “in case something happened, but I wasn’t thinking I’d been doing something this soon.”

According to the rumour mill, Williams will be busy next season. He’s taking over as coach in Elmira, Waterloo, and Stratford, along with being an assistant coach with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, a minor hockey coach, and coach of a pro team in Germany.

“I don’t think I’ll be actively looking for something, but if I’m approached I’m going to listen – I’m not going to just say no without listening,” he said.

Throughout his tenure Williams made his underdog Cyclones believers in themselves, and overachievers through hard work. His 19 playoff coaching victories are a club record.

He will continue to work with Stocco until the end of this contract, April 30. The team plans a spring skate April 29-30.

[wow]

according to some team members.. if stocco is the man in charge.. lots of players are bailing..

[esk fan]

jumping ship before it sinks hahaha not in elmira he worse than what we already have !!!!