Northeastern’s pool of potential new coaches has been reduced by two, when former Northeastern forwards Jim Madigan and Jay Heinbuck pulled themselves out of the running.
Madigan, a member of the Huskies’ 1982 Frozen Four team, had reportedly been offered the position, but after wavering, decided to turn it down. He currently works in Northeastern’s development office, and also works part time as a scout for the NHL’s New York Islanders.
“I’m not in the mix,” Madigan told the Boston Herald. “I’m happy where I am making contributions to the university through the development office and in engaging people with Northeastern University.”
Heinbuck also skated for Northeastern in the ’80s, then was an assistant coach for many years, most recently at St. Lawrence.
Bruce Crowder was recently let go as the team’s head coach following nine years on the job.
There’s a decided New York Islanders bent to the candidates. In addition to Madigan, Heinbuck is head of college scouting for the Islanders. And former Maine and Islanders assistant Greg Cronin, who now is the head coach for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn., is also in the running.
Long-time Boston College assistant Mike Cavanaugh, two-time ECAC Coach of the Year and Colgate assistant Stan Moore, former BU forward and current Massachusetts-Lowell assistant Ken Rausch, Brown head coach Roger Grillo, and Clarkson assistant coach Greg Drechsel were also among the prominent names mentioned as candidates in a report at USHR.com.
