After just over a month of searching, the Tucson Roadrunners found its next head coach in Jay Varady, the team announced Monday morning. Varady agreed to a multi-year contract, however the terms of the contract were not disclosed, per club policy.
Varady becomes the Roadrunners' third head coach in three seasons, and will replace Mike Van Ryn, who left to join the St. Louis Blues staff in May.
"It's an honor to be named head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners,” Varady said. “I’m looking forward to developing the Coyotes prospects while building on the team foundation that was established in Tucson last season.”
The 40-year-old Varady's moves to Tucson after he head coached the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and led Kingston to a 36-23-6-3 record in his first season.
"After an extensive search, we are very pleased to select Jay as our new head coach of the Roadrunners,” Arizona Coyotes Assistant General Manager Steve Sullivan said. “Jay is an excellent coach, teacher and a proven winner. We are confident that he is the right coach to continue forming the culture that we are creating with the team. He will be a great leader and will continue to develop our prospects in Tucson.”
Before Kingston, Varady coached the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League and led the franchise to a 136-88-0-1 record in four years, making the playoffs in three seasons.
Check back on this story as the Star will have more on Varady in the following hours.
