Jarrod Skalde New Coach of Norfolk Admirals

After serving with the Norfolk Admirals as an assistant coach last season, the club has promoted Jarrod Skalde to head coach for next season.

The 43 year-old Skalde has 5 years of coaching experience with two in the International Hockey League for Bloomington and three with Cincinnati of the ECHL. His most successful stretch came two years ago when Skalde took Cincinnati to the semifinals of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs on a 42-22-5-3 mark in the 2012-13 regular season. For his efforts and the Cyclones’ postseason accomplishments, he earned the league’s 2012-13 Coach of the Year honor.

“I was fortunate to start my career as a head coach and last year was very valuable for me to develop and learn under Trent Yawney and Marty Wilford. I feel I am more prepared at this point in time to be the next head coach than maybe a couple of years ago.” ~ Jarrod Skalde

He has the track record, knows the Admirals and has the potential to take the team to next level next season if the team buys into his system. Skalde also has a solid track record on the ice playing in seven leagues and six countries. The New Jersey selected Jarrod Skalde in the second round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He had an 18 year career and added time spent with 9 AHL teams during that time. He recorded 178 goals and 296 assists for 474 points throughout his AHL career. He played in just 115 NHL games with New Jersey, Anaheim, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, San Jose, Atlanta and Philadelphia and notched 13 goals and 21 assists.

Jarrod Skalde will be taking over for Trent Yawney who left to take an assistant coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL. Yawney was a mentor of sorts for Skalde who stepped into his first assistant role last season and helped him learn the ropes of coaching in the AHL. Skalde is now ready to take that next step with his mentor moving onto the next step in his career.