Kalamazoo adds two coaches and says goodbye to another.
With less than two months to go before the 2024-25 season begins, the Kalamazoo Wings have put the finishing touches on their coaching staff.
The K-Wings have announced the addition of Billy McCreary and Jonathon Elliott to the staff of head coach and director of hockey operations Joel Martin.
Simultaneously, the club announced assistant Kohl Schultz has departed and accepted an assistant coaching position with HC Pustertal of the ICEHL.
McCreary joins the Wings after serving as president and director of hockey operations for the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks of the NAHL from 2022-24, and head coach and general manager of the PFHL's Danbury Hat Tricks in 2019-20 and 2022-24.
A native of Southhampton, ON, McCreary played parts of six seasons at multiple levels from 2007-12. He won an SPHL championship with Huntsville in 2009-10 after playing collegiate hockey at Providence and Curry colleges (2003-07).
"I want to thank Joel Martin for putting his trust in me and allowing my family to call Kalamazoo home," McCreary said following the club's announcement. "I am deeply honored by the opportunity to represent one of the most storied franchises in pro hockey. This organization has strong leadership from top to bottom, and I am thrilled to be able to bring my passions to the team."
Elliott comes to Kalamazoo after two years at the collegiate level with Miami University as director of hockey operations in 2022-23 and an assistant coach for the team last season. Prior to his time with the RedHawks, the Bloomfield Hills, MI native spent four seasons as an assistant with NCAA Division III Saint Mary's University.
Before getting into coaching, Elliott played at Saint Mary's from 2012-16.
"Kalamazoo is a special place and I am very excited to be back in my home state surrounded by such a passionate fan base," Elliott said. "I look forward to contributing to the team's success and being involved in the community."
Schultz, a St. Louis native, helped the Wings reach the Kelly Cup Playoffs in his second season with the club, and engineered one of the best power play units in the ECHL during the second half of last season at 25.3%.
"My time in Kalamazoo is what the ECHL is all about, growth," Schultz stated. "I can't thank (Joel Martin) and the K-Wings leadership enough for the opportunity to become a better coach. I'm incredibly excited for my next step, but Kalamazoo will always have a piece of my heart. It's a special community filled with special people."
The K-Wings are still filling their roster for the 2024-25 season, so stay close to The Hockey News for more signings to come.