Conacher taking reins as Utah Grizzlies coach

WEST VALLEY CITY — Pat Conacher wanted to be a head coach some day, but the 45-year-old assistant for the NHL Phoenix Coyotes bided his time just trying to be the best assistant he could until the phone rang and the Coyotes asked him to take over their new AHL affiliate in Utah.

"We were asked if we had any other candidates, and we didn't," said the Grizzlies' general manager, Laurence Gilman, who is also the Coyotes' assistant GM.

"We identified early on that Pat Conacher was the individual we wanted to lead this team because the things he embodies — hard work, dedication, honesty — are things we want our coach to impart to our young players and so does Gord Dineen."

Dineen, the Grizzly captain in the first half of the franchise's existence and for a while its player/assistant coach, was named Conacher's assistant and Grizzly director of hockey operations. He was assistant coach last season with Phoenix's former AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass.

Both were introduced at a Tuesday morning press conference in the E Center.

Utah and Phoenix announced a three-year partnership in April. The Grizzlies had spent the last three years under a working agreement with the Dallas Stars.

Grizzlies' co-owner David Elmore pushed for Dineen to be part of his coaching staff and was delighted that the Coyotes agreed."He's part of the family," Elmore said. "That's important for us."

"(Conacher) was a big part of our operation last year," said Gilman, noting that he and Coyotes' GM Michael Barnett have observed him closely. "This business is obviously about hockey, but it's about attributes and personality, and both of these guys demonstrated to this organization well in advance that they were suited for these jobs."

"They called me and asked if I'd be interested, and I think it's the best job in hockey. I jumped on it with both feet. Of course I would," said Conacher. "I was thrilled they thought enough of me to offer me the job and the opportunity for myself, I couldn't ask for more.

"I wanted it, but if I would have had to spend another year as an assistant coach in Phoenix, I'd have done that, too."

Like Conacher, Dineen waited for official word he'd be returning to Utah and called it "a dream job" for him, his wife, Alexandra, 2 1/2-month-old daughter, Molly Rose, to "come back to sort-of my roots" with the Grizzlies. "That was always the hope," he said.