The Nashville Predators announced today that Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Stan Drulia have each signed contract extensions that will keep them in Milwaukee through the 2014-15 season.
Last year was Evason’s first as Admirals bench boss and he guided the team to a 41-28-4-3 record, a second-place finish in the Midwest Division and a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. It was an AHL-record 10th straight season that the Ads had accumulated 40 or more wins, and the 11th consecutive year that they have qualified for the AHL postseason.
In addition, Evason saw 12 players skate for both the Admirals and Predators last year, including Taylor Beck, Victor Bartley, Austin Watson, Daniel Bang and Kevin Henderson, who all made their NHL debuts.
Evason became the 20th head coach in Admirals history when he was hired on June 19, 2012, He had spent the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, helping them claim four straight Southeast Division titles, reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs five consecutive years (2008-12) and win the 2010 President’s Trophy.
The 2012-13 campaign was the first full year for Drulia with the Admirals, after he joined the team in November of 2011 as Ian Herbers’ top assistant. In his role as assistant, Drulia runs the defensive corps, and is in charge of pre-scouting opponents, the penalty kill and face-offs.
Prior to arriving in Milwaukee, Drulia served as head coach for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, compiling a 49-35-5 record. During his last full season with the Nailers in 2010-11, the Elmira, N.Y., native led the club to a 38-29-5 record and a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Eighteen players from the squad saw promotions to the American Hockey League during the course of the season.
