After Ryan Warsofsky was named the San Jose Sharks’ new head coach in June 2024, he began his introductory press conference by thanking the people who helped him along his journey.

When Warsofsky recounted the moment South Carolina Stingrays president Rob Concannon offered him his first pro coaching job, he became emotional.

"I emailed Rob Concannon, who is here today, about an assistant coach job opening in South Carolina in the ECHL,” Warsofsky said at his presser. “I emailed him, and ten minutes later, he called me. That call changed my life forever."

Warsofsky, who became the youngest active head coach in the NHL at age 36, was an assistant coach for the Stingrays from 2013-16 before holding the head coaching position from 2016-18.

In Warsofsky’s time with the Stingrays, the team reached the Kelly Cup finals in 2015 and 2017. He is one of three former Stingrays who went on to become an NHL head coach, joining Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals) and Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche).

In 16 seasons as Stingrays president and alternate governor, Concannon has guided the club to three Kelly Cup Finals appearances and the Conference Finals in 2016. So, he knows a thing or two about developing coaches in an ever-changing landscape like the ECHL.

What does he look for in a head coach?

“Somebody who’s hard-working and passionate,” said Concannon, who played for the Stingrays from 1995 to 2000 and was a member of their Kelly Cup Championship squad in 1997. “I look for good people. I know it sounds cliché, but you want people who work hard and don’t necessarily want to be here for a long period of time, but also being able to have that passion to win.”

Embracing Charleston

Born and raised just outside of Boston, the 54-year-old Concannon was a Division III All-American in 1995 with Salem State College. He skated in 350 games for the Stingrays, finishing in the top 10 all-time in points (254), and was inducted into the Stingrays Hall of Fame in 2004.

During his eight-year career as a pro, Concannon also played for the Saint John Flames and St. John Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League, as well as Idaho and Greenville in the ECHL.

Concannon still remembers his initial reaction after being told by the Leafs they were sending him to Charleston in 1995.

“I didn’t want to go,” he recalled. “My buddies (former Stingrays Mark and Mike Bavis) told me that if I came here, I would never leave.”

Nothing against the good city of Charleston. As it turned out, the Bavis twins were right. Concannon has spent more of his life in Charleston than in Boston. The Stingrays have also become an integral part of the community. Along with the success on the ice, the club has increased its revenue for nine straight seasons.

Winning has a lot to do with that, of course, but community involvement and putting people in the right positions play a big role as well.

“Back in the 1990s, when the team first came here, there were 10,000 fans here every single night,” Concannon said. “Having the players involved in the community, the front office involved… they’re all important parts of the success of our team.”

Success And Heartbreak

Last season was a historic one for the Stingrays. After hiring Jared Nightingale as their new head coach and director of hockey operations, they captured their second Brabham Cup in team history for sporting the ECHL’s best regular-season record. They set team records for regular-season wins (52), road victories (23) and points (109).

Even though the Rays were knocked out of the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs by the Orlando Solar Bears, Concannon realizes disappointment is part of the process.

“Hockey’s a weird game,” he said. “Once you get to the playoffs and there’s a clean slate, anything can happen… You’ve got to give credit to Orlando. They played us really strong and tough.”

After his lone season with the Stingrays, Nightingale was named head coach of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Concannon went back to the Warsofsky bloodlines for his next bench boss. He hired Ryan’s younger brother David, who served as a coaching advisor for the team last season following a 14-year playing career in the NHL, AHL and overseas.

While David has never been behind a bench, Concannon felt he had many qualities that will help him navigate a steep learning curve.

“From a hockey perspective, I felt like it was the right decision,” Concannon explained. “He’s done a great job this summer of working hard, trying to build a competitive team.”

Looking To The Future

Along with being the Stingrays’ president and alternate governor, Concannon is also head of the ECHL’s Competition Committee. With the recent expansion into Greensboro in 2025-26, New Mexico in 2026-27 and Augusta, Georgia in 2027-28, Concannon believes the league is stronger than it’s ever been.

“I think (Commissioner) Ryan Crelin does a terrific job,” Concannon said. “A lot of the markets have embraced the importance of the promo calendar. Once (the fans) get there, they love the hockey. The relationship between the AHL and NHL is very strong. There’s a lot of great affiliations with ECHL teams. I like the direction of the ECHL.”

As for the state of the Stingrays, Concannon believes they are once again poised to do great things despite the disappointing end to last season.

“This will be our 33rd year in Charleston,” he said. “Coming off a 52-win season, getting some familiar faces back from last year, the front office is doing a terrific job of selling tickets, we have a new coach… I really like the position the Stingrays are in.”