Photo by: Jim McIsaac
Don Granato departs for the Chicago Blackhawks
June 15, 2017 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Badgers open season with U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame GameHughes named 2017-18 men’s hockey captain 2017-18 Wisconsin men’s hockey schedule released
Committed to Badgers’ winning tradition, Tony Granato proud of brother’s new opportunity
 |
||
|
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
He didn't know how long associate head coaches Don Granato and Mark Osiecki would remain on staff at their alma mater given that both own resumes that are sought-after throughout the professional and college ranks.
The answer came this week – quicker than some thought or hoped – when Don Granato accepted an offer to become an NHL assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Tony Granato knew what he was getting into when he assembled his so-called "Dream Team" staff to get the Badgers back on track after consecutive losing seasons.
"We came here with three head coaches and there's only one head coach on each bench," he said.
"My intention is to be here a long, long, long time. Donny and Mark are in another position."
All three men have had success running their own programs – whether in the NHL, the minor leagues, the Tier I junior level or major college ranks – so it stands to reason that an opportunity for advancement would be alluring.
That was the case with Don Granato, an innovative tactician who has long had aspirations to coach in the NHL.
"The situation that Donny's going to be in is a great opportunity," his brother said. "What Donny can add to a team is why he was pursued by them as aggressively as he was."
Â
That's the only sign of movement within the UW staff, though.
"I'm not going anywhere," said Tony Granato, who recently had his five-year contract renewed. "My commitment is to be here."
Osiecki, known for molding elite defensemen and as a savvy recruiter, said he's been contacted by multiple NHL organizations, "but I'm happy being a Badger."
In essence, Don Granato is going from one dream job to another, a move he described as "bittersweet."
Not only is he returning to his Illinois roots – the Granato family is based in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove – he's being reunited with Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.
Granato worked with Quenneville, who has won three Stanley Cups in Chicago, when the two were employed by the St. Louis Blues in 2005-06.
Quenneville also has close ties with Tony Granato, the two having worked together when they were on staff with the Colorado Avalanche in the mid-2000s.
"My plan was not to leave after one year and I wouldn't have left after one year if I didn't think we're in the position we're in," Don Granato said.
Tony Granato and Co. inherited a program that had won 12 of 70 games from 2014 to '16 and promptly executed a dramatic turnaround.
The Badgers finished 20-15-1 overall, placed second in the Big Ten Conference and narrowly missed qualifying for the 16-team NCAA tournament.
At the same time, the three men re-established Wisconsin, a six-time national champion, as a destination for top recruits in North America and beyond.
All this was done as Tony Granato attended classes, finished up his final 16 credits and earned his degree 30 years after leaving Madison as the fourth all-time leading scorer in UW history.
Those developments help explain why Tony Granato was named Coach of the Year in the Big Ten.
Don Granato said the over-arching goal upon the staff's arrival was to get the program turned around and get momentum going in the other direction.
"We obviously did both," he said. "We have traction in the sense that we have lots of recruits committed and obviously the turnaround is the turnaround.
"That was a big thing to do and it took all the energy that all three of us had to do it.
"The three of us were pretty intense about doing it and we got it done to that point."
Tony Granato said he has a list of potential replacements for his brother and is looking forward to the changes ahead.
Retooling rosters and staffs is something Tony Granato expects to do on an annual basis.Â
"There could potentially be other opportunities, whether it be it the NHL or a position in another league," he said of his assistants. "We have to understand those guys are going to be attractive to other organizations.
"That's a great compliment to them. It's a great compliment to our program."
Minnesota Cinematic Highlights
Monday, November 03
Kohl Center Atmosphere
Sunday, November 02
Quinn Finley Highlight
Sunday, November 02
Badgers Sweep the Gophers
Saturday, November 01
