The New Jersey Devils today set the coaching staff for its top development team, the American Hockey League’s Lowell Devils. Kurt Kleinendorst was named the first head coach in team history, and will be joined by goaltending coach Chris Terreri and assistant coach Kevin Dean.
Kleinendorst, 45, will be entering his seventh season with the New Jersey Devils. He served as a member of the team’s scouting staff for the past five seasons, including the last four as special assignment scout, and the 2001-02 season as a pro scout. Kleinendorst joined New Jersey as an assistant coach to Larry Robinson for the 2000-01 season.
Kleinendorst served five seasons (1991-94, 95-97) as head coach and director of hockey operations for Raleigh (ECHL), and was named the league’s top coach in 1993. He also coached Manchester of the British Super League, leading the team to a championship and earning top coach honors in 1999.
Kleinendorst’s playing career included AHL stints with New Haven (1984-85) and Utica (1987-88). He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award during his senior season at Providence College in 1983.
Terreri, 41, is entering his sixth season as goaltending coach with New Jersey’s development team, and his 16th season with the organization, including time as a player. Terreri was a member of the Devils’ Stanley Cup championship teams in 1995 and 2000, and represented the United States at the 1988 Olympics.
Terreri skated in the AHL with the Devils’ affiliates in Maine (1986-87) and Utica (1987-89), and made a one-game appearance for the Albany River Rats in 2005-06.
Dean, 37, joins the Devils’ coaching staff following a professional career that spanned 12 seasons beginning in 1990-91, including 331 games in the NHL with New Jersey, Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago. Dean also played 308 career AHL games with Utica, Albany and Milwaukee, and was a First Team AHL All-Star in 1994-95. That season, Dean won both the Calder Cup with the River Rats and the Stanley Cup with the Devils.
