With the NHL’s New York Rangers finally close to filling their coaching vacancy, Northern Michigan can finally move closer to filling theirs.
Walt Kyle, a Northern Michigan graduate and assistant coach for the Wildcats’ 1991 NCAA championship team, has been a Rangers assistant. His contract expired May 31 and his status was up in the air, pending the hiring of a new coach.
Published reports out of New York indicate Bryan Trottier is now in line for the Rangers’ job, which would leave Kyle out of the mix, opening the door for his return to Northern Michigan.
NMU athletic director Dan Spielman has stretched the interview process into June in order to give Kyle an opportunity.
Kyle will officially interview on Friday, June 13. In the mean time, the two other finalists will interview this week, starting today with current NMU assistant Dave Shyiak, who has acted as the program’s de facto leader since Rick Comley departed for Michigan State at season’s end.
On Thursday, Michigan State assistant Dave McAuliffe will be Spielman’s third and final interview.
All three will meet with the media and general public from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Wildcat Room of the Berry Events Center on their respective interview day.
