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Kent Roosevelt Hires New Head Coach

By Jim Smith, 06/25/20, 8:30PM EDT

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Brad Edwards moves into top position

     During his lifetime, Brad Edwards has walked into the Kent State Ice Arena as a youth hockey player for the Tri-County Flames, a Theodore Roosevelt High School player and as a collegiate player for the Kent State University American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) team.

     The next time Edwards strides into the arena he will do so as the new head coach of the Roosevelt Rough Riders ice hockey team.

      Edwards was an assistant coach on the Roosevelt bench during the 2019-2020 season, managing the forwards lines, and is the sixth head coach in the history of the Rough Riders program.

     “I just want to continue the tradition,” offered Edwards. “I am really humbled and honored for the opportunity. Not very many people can say they have had the opportunity to coach and play for the program that they grew up playing in. I want to move the program forward in a positive manner.”

      The Kent native believes his previous connections to the Roosevelt hockey program will serve him well in guiding the program into the future.

      “I think it is important. Knowing the program, the tradition and the players I coached last year will help with our transition.”

     Edwards’ variety of coaching experiences make him cognizant of the great difference in scope of responsibilities sliding across the bench from an assistant’s role to the head coaching slot.

     “I would be lying if I didn’t say there is a little bit of weight on my shoulders”, explained Edwards. “I am coming in and filling in some pretty big shoes from all the people that have come before me, especially the previous head coach (Ben Barlow). I know there is a lot of pressure involved but I am excited for that opportunity.  I will use all my experiences from coaching hockey at Mentor, NDCL and Western Reserve Academy and, as a member of the coaching staff here at Roosevelt, to try use the things I have learned and continue the tradition of the program.”

     After completing a three-step interview process, Roosevelt Coordinator of Athletics, Mark Pfaff, offered Edwards the position.

    “His previous head coaching experience is the thing that jumped off the page for me”, professed Pfaff. I think anytime we have an opportunity to hire somebody with previous head coaching experience, we need to do try to do that. That is not always the end-all, but once you take the word assistant from in front of that word ‘coach” and put “head coach” to that name is a whole new ball game and that experience is very beneficial to our programs.”

     While summer may have officially started recently, Edwards has already initiated the planning process for the upcoming winter season.

     “First and foremost, I have been in contact with current players, incoming players and have communicated with the parents. I am getting a feeling for what the players’ goals are for the season.”

      “One thing that (Edwards) stressed to me and Dennis (Roosevelt Principal Dennis Love) in our conversations was the building of relationships. One thing that Rough Rider hockey has always had is that relationship piece. I think Brad fits that bill perfectly,” added Pfaff.

     “I can’t stress enough that in coaching you have to be able to build those relationships with the kids and the parents. That is what the good ones (coaches) are able to do. I think Brad will fit right into that perfectly,” Pfaff said.

      The Rough Riders will be playing in the White South Division of the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League (GCHSHL) during the upcoming 2020-21 season and Edwards is comfortable with that move from last season’s placement in the White North Division.

     “That will be a good fit for us. We were competitive last year in the White North, but I feel the White South is a better fit for us based on where we are personnel-wise. I am excited for the returning players we have.”

     Edwards is a 7th grade science teacher in Mentor and coaches middle school football.

     “My parents and brother are still in town and being able to see my family is a cool thing,” declared Edwards.

     “It’s always nice to have an alumnus come back and coach our kids,” added Pfaff.

BLUE LINE NOTES:

> The new head coach’s father, Jerry, and brother, Brett, have served as penalty box attendants at Roosevelt hockey games for many seasons.

> Edwards joked that that his path in hockey started because of his Dad missing the soccer sign ups when he was a child.

> Aurora will join Roosevelt in the GCHSHL White South Division in the 2020-21 season. Kenston, Orange, Solon and Western Reserve Academy are the remaining teams in the division.    

 

--- follow Jim Smith on Twitter @bluelinenotes

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