By Lee Vernoy, Tribune Sports Writer
May 2, 2018
GREAT FALLS Mont. – The Great Falls Americans have selected their next coach who will guide the team into the 2020s.
Greg Sears has been selected by the North American Tier 3 Hockey League Frontier League club to take over for Jeff Heimel, who was picked to lead the brand new University of Providence hockey programs.
Sears, 36, coached the Florida Eels in the United State Premier Hockey League last season after joining up with Yellowstone Quake GM and head coach Ryan Theros as an assistant in 2016-17.
“I have experience as to how to do things the right way,” Sears said. “I want to continue the tradition here in Great Falls and get kids to college.
“That’s our number one goal, and my number one goal at every meeting with returning players. I tell them: ‘I used to be like you and I used to care about my points, my goals and assists, and now I care about college commitments and getting guys into school.'”
Americans general manager Jim Keough couldn’t be more excited about the hiring as he enters his eighth year running the business end of the club.
“(Heimel) gave us six good years, and he built the program,” Keough said. “We’re really excited about Greg continuing our winning tradition here.
“With his background and goals as far as getting kids into the next level – college – that’s why were a development program. We want to get back to nationals, and we will. We have a great group of returning players.”
“That way I look at it, the kids are making an investment in us,” Sears said. “It’s up to us to give them the opportunity to keep playing hockey when they leave here.”
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune: Greg Sears to take over behind Americans’ bench (May 2, 2018)