KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Following two years and two SPHL championships as head coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears, Scott Hillman will get the opportunity to essentially go home again and build a team from scratch.
Friday afternoon, the Ice Bears announced that Hillman, 35, is resigning to take the job as head coach of the CHL expansion team in Independence, Missouri. Hillman had come to Knoxville following eight seasons playing with the Odessa Jackalopes.
“It’s a bittersweet day here in Knoxville,” Ice Bears Director of Marketing and Communications Kim Bittinger said following the press conference announcing the coaching change. “We’re sad to see Scott leave but we wish him the best.”
Hillman joined the Ice Bears in September of 2007 following the abrupt resignation of then-coach Jim Bermingham. During that first season behind the bench, he guided Knoxville to a 32-16-4 record and the first of back-to-back regular season championships. The Ice Bears then went 6-2 in the playoffs, including a three game sweep over the Jacksonville Barracudas to win the franchise’s second President’s Cup championship in three seasons.
Last season, Hillman led Knoxville to a 35-16-9 mark and a second consecutive Coffey Trophy as the number one team throughout the season. The Ice Bears then accomplished what no SPHL team had yet to do by winning the President’s Cup in back-to-back campaigns with a thrilling seventh game triumph over the Fayetteville FireAntz in the finals. In all, his 67-32-13 regular season record and 13-7 playoff mark put him among the league’s elite coaches.
“I want to thank (President / G.M.) Mike Murray and the entire ownership group and the entire staff of the Knoxville Ice Bears for the incredible support. They not only supported me during my two seasons as the Ice Bears’ head coach but also through this new opportunity as I move on to a higher level of hockey,” Hillman said in a team-generated press release. “They want the Knoxville Ice Bears’ organization to be successful, but more importantly, they care about every individual involved. I also want to thank the booster club, the season ticket holders and all of the amazing Ice Bears fans. Without you, Knoxville would not be the premier place to play hockey in the SPHL.”
Hillman’s pro playing career took him to the ECHL (Toledo Storm) and Germany before joining El Paso during the 1999-2000 season whey it was still part of the WPHL. El Paso traded him to Odessa later that season. He stayed with the Jackalopes through their transition into the CHL until an injury forced him to retire following the 2006-2007 season. While in Odessa, he established team records for games played (446) and ended up second in career assists (260) and points (326). His leadership skills earned him the position of player/assistant coach under Don McKee for three seasons. He also was named CHL Man of the Year for his community involvement in 2002.
“When I brought him here two years ago, I knew he was going to be a great fit. He not only produced results on the ice but Scott represented our organization well in the community,” Murray said. “We are sad to see Scott leave Knoxville and the Knoxville Ice Bears organization, however, we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
Murray said that he will begin the search for Hillman’s replacement immediately with the hopes of finding a new coach within the next month. When asked if assistant coach Marc Rodgers or current captain/player assistant coach Kevin Swider would be considered, Murray said that certainly they would be if they express interest but Rodgers has a full-time job away from hockey and he hopes that Swider will return as a player next season.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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