After exiting the Rapid City Rush as head coach and general manager earlier this month, Scott Burt is about to begin a new chapter.
The Greensboro Gargoyles, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves, announced that Burt has been named the first head coach in team history.
The 48-year-old Burt brings over 13 years of coaching experience to the Gargoyles. He comes to Greensboro after spending the past four seasons as head coach and GM of the Rush, who elected not to renew his contract following this season.
Burt earned 130 career wins behind the Rush bench.
“Scott brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the league, which will be a valuable asset for a first-year team,” Zawyer Sports VP of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst said in a news release. “He has proven himself as both a player and a coach in this league and has earned the respect of many of the players he has coached over the years. We are excited for him to put his experience to work as we head into our inaugural season.”
Prior to becoming the head coach in Rapid City, Burt served as an assistant coach for the Idaho Steelheads (2019-20) and the Alaska Aces (2011-13). He also spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs from 2013-19.
Last December, Burt took a medical leave of absence to be treated for a brain tumor before returning behind the Rush bench in February. The team just missed qualifying for the post-season.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Gargoyles into their first season,” Burt stated. “There is a lot of buzz about hockey in Greensboro and across North Carolina as a whole and we are excited to make an impact in the region both on and off the ice. I am looking forward to beginning the process of building a team that will bring a competitive brand of hockey that Gargoyles Nation will be proud of.”
As a player, Burt played in 13 ECHL seasons, totaling 356 points (149-207-356) with 1,067 penalty minutes in 586 ECHL games in stints with the Toledo Storm, Idaho Steelheads, Utah Grizzlies and Alaska Aces.
Burt is a three-time Kelly Cup Champion, winning with Idaho in 2004 and 2007 and with Alaska in 2011.
The Gargoyles begin their inaugural season on Oct. 18 and 19 when they play host to the Jacksonville Icemen at First Horizon Coliseum.
Photo Courtesy of the ECHL.