Report: Dineen to become Richmond's new coach May 22, 2002

By Phillip Ramati
Telegraph Staff Writer

While it's unclear whether Macon Whoopee hockey will return next season, it's likely Gord Dineen won't be back as coach.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported in its Monday edition that Dineen would be the Renegades new head coach, replacing Mark Kaufman, who was fired after going 32-30-10 this season.

The 39-year-old Dineen, reached in Boston on Monday, wouldn't confirm that he will be named the new coach of the Richmond Renegades, a Washington Capitals affiliate in the East Coast Hockey League, when the team holds a press conference this afternoon.

"There's going to be an announcement (today)," Dineen said.

Renegades general manager Paul Gamsby also wouldn't say who would be named coach at the press conference, but did confirm that Dineen was among his final three choices.

"I'm not announcing anyone yet," Gamsby said.

As a rookie head coach, Dineen had the Whoopee contending for a playoff spot for most of its first season in the ECHL. But Macon went into a nosedive after some injuries and the call-up of center Mike Green. The team went on a franchise-record 13-game winless streak and finished 29-31-12.

Still, despite the poor finish, Dineen received a lot of praise from other coaches, players and fans around the league.

"He has a great work ethic," Gamsby said. "His pedigree lends itself to that. His whole family is hard working. There's not too many people around who will say anything ill about the Dineen family.

"I think he did a good job in Macon, especially considering he had a late start there. He knows what it takes to have a winning team. He's a quality person."

Dineen is one of five brothers to play pro hockey and is the son of former NHL player and coach Bill Dineen. He replaced Graeme Townshend as head coach in Macon coming from Louisville, where he was an assistant coach. A defenseman, he played 18 pro seasons in the NHL, International Hockey League and American Hockey League, including stints with the New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators. He was on the Penguins' 1991 Stanley Cup team.

Brother Stewart, the majority partner in Macon Sports Group, which runs the Whoopee, wouldn't say if he knew if Dineen got the Richmond job.

"If he does get the job, (Richmond) is getting a great coach and a class individual," Stewart said. "If they hire him, it's a good move for them and a good move for Gord."

Stewart said he had a conversation with Gamsby a couple of months ago about Dineen.

"It was part of checking the references on him," Gamsby said. "Brother spoke very highly of him."

Dineen did say he had also talked earlier with San Antonio in the AHL and Greensboro and Toledo in the ECHL about their coaching vacancies.

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