The Colorado Avalanche announced today that Greg Cronin has been named head coach of the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
In addition, Aaron Schneekloth and Ryan Tobler, who spent the past two seasons as the Eagles’ head coach and assistant coach, respectively, in the ECHL, will serve as Cronin’s assistant coaches. Ryan Bach will serve as goaltending coach.
Cronin, 55, has spent 30 seasons in coaching, including 12 years as an assistant in the NHL and two seasons as a head coach at the AHL level. He spent the last four years on the New York Islanders’ coaching staff, serving three seasons as an assistant before being promoted to associate coach in 2017-18. It marked his second stint with the Islanders, as he previously was an assistant coach with the team from 1998 to 2003.
Cronin was also an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons from 2011-14.
A native of Arlington, Mass., Cronin served two seasons as head coach of the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, from 2003-05, leading the club to the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2003-04. He also coached the PlanetUSA club at the 2004 AHL All-Star Classic.
After his time in Bridgeport, Cronin spent six seasons as head coach at Northeastern University (2005-11).
One of the co-founders of the United States National Development Program, Cronin served as the head coach and director of player development for the U.S. Under-18 Team for two years from 1996-98. He has also been an assistant coach for Team USA at several international tournaments.
