The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Anaheim Ducks have restructured the Crunch coaching staff. Trent Yawney has been named associate head coach, Mark Holick named associate coach and Marty Wilford will remain as assistant coach.
Yawney, a native of Hudson Bay, Sask., has over 11 years of coaching experience, either as a head or assistant coach in the National Hockey League and American Hockey League. He brings over 23 years of professional hockey experience having served as a player, scout and coach.
Yawney’s most recent coaching experience was serving as an assistant coach with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks from 2008-11. During Yawney’s time with the Sharks, the team made two Western Conference Final appearances (2010 and 2011) and won the Presidents Trophy in 2009.
Yawney has also spent time as a coach in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. He began his coaching career as an assistant in 1999-2000 and returned as the club’s head coach from 2005-2007.
Yawney served as the head coach of the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals from 2000-05. Under his leadership the Admirals went 189-144-42-25, qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of his five seasons. Yawney led the Admirals to back-to-back South Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and was named ‘Minor Pro Coach of the Year’ by The Hockey News following the 2003-04 season.
Yawney’s professional hockey career spanned from 1988-99 and he saw action in 593 NHL contests with Chicago, Calgary and St. Louis. The defenseman collected 129 points (27g, 102a) and 783 penalty minutes during his NHL career. Additionally, Yawney played in 60 postseason contests, helping the Blackhawks to the Western Conference Finals in 1989 and 1990.
Yawney had 56 points (14g, 42a) in 184 games of international competition with Team Canada including the 1988 Olympics, where he served as the team’s captain. Yawney was drafted by Chicago in the third round (45th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
Prior to being named associate head coach for the Crunch, Yawney was working as a professional scout for the Anaheim Ducks, a position he also held during the 2007-08 season.
