According to various reports, Union is drawing closer to a field of finalists for its vacant head coaching position, and it apparently includes two-time national champion coach Jeff Jackson.
According the Albany Times-Union, former Clarkson coach Mark Morris applied but, like with the Vermont opening, is not being considered. Morris was fired last fall after 15 years at Clarkson in the aftermath of an alleged physical confrontation with a player.
Former Union assistants Kevin Patrick (now at Bowling Green) and John Micheletto (now at Notre Dame) are also considered candidates, as are current assistants Andrew Will and Greg Klym.
David Quinn — a Boston University graduate, the head coach of the U.S. Under-17 team and a finalist for the Vermont opening — was never a candidate. Sources indicated the Union athletic director Val Belmonte liked Quinn, but feared he would jump ship for a Hockey East school at the first chance. Meanwhile, Quinn has stated he was never interested in the position.
Other sources have indicated that Massachusetts assistant Bill Gilligan and Boston University Brian Durocher are interested, but neither were confirmed to be candidates.
USHR.com also reported that Dartmouth assistant Dave Peters, Boston College assistant Ron Rolston, and D-III St. John’s head coach John Harrington were being given consideration.
Jackson won a national championship with Lake Superior in 1992 and 1994, before leaving to head up the fledgling U.S. National Team Development Program in 1996. After getting fired from that post, he became head coach of the major junior Guelph Storm (OHL) for over two years, before getting fired in the middle of last season. Jackson applied for the Vermont opening, but curiously never received consideration.
