The Greenville Swamp Rabbits announced Wednesday that Chad Costello has been named Head Coach and General Manager, the sixth in franchise history.
Costello comes to the Upstate to begin his third season as a Head Coach, and his fourth behind a bench in professional hockey. Previously, he was appointed Associate Coach of the Rapid City Rush on Dec. 12, leading the team to an 18-10-3-1 record while averaging 3.63 goals per game in that span.
His efforts helped the Rush finish the season just shy of 20.0% on the power play and propelled the team to eventual ECHL franchise records with an 11-game winning streak and overall 13-game point streak from Feb. 1 to March 1.
“This is an incredible opportunity, especially considering that I get to continue to work with the best, first-class ownership in the ECHL of Spire Sports + Entertainment,” Costello said in a statement. “I’m excited to be a part of the Swamp Rabbits organization. Greenville is hungry to win now. The expectations are high; it’s a championship atmosphere here, and because of that, we’re hungry to take the next step as a team.”
Costello gives Swamp Rabbits fans a blueprint of what they can expect with him behind the bench.
“I’ve been taught by old school coaches and played with new school athletes,” Costello added. “As a coach myself, I try to ride that line between old school accountability where we work every single day, and the new school where I can relate to the players and help them develop, having been through it myself. From my playing days to this coaching role, however, the most important aspect I bring to my approach is competing on a daily basis.
“From the top of our organization to our team, we need to win every day of the week in our habits and win on game days as a result of our hard work. Fans, I’m honest, I’m loyal, and I love my players. Expect a hard, fast, consistent brand of hockey, and expect a team that’s committed to doing things right every night we take the ice. I look forward to getting started right away in our pursuit of a Kelly Cup Championship.”
Prior to joining the Rush, Costello was the Head Coach and General Manager of the Allen Americans for a pair of seasons (2022-24), reaching the Kelly Cup Playoffs in both campaigns while compiling a 70-67-5-2 record in 144 contests.
In his first season, Costello’s Americans squad finished second in the Mountain Division, and was top-five in both power play and penalty kill, and top-10 in the ECHL offensively. Additionally, his team featured three of the league’s top-10 scorers, including eventual ECHL MVP and Rookie of the Year Hank Crone, who led the league with 105 points. Crone’s teammate, Jack Combs, was next with 95 points.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chad and his family to Greenville,” Tim Vieira, President of the Swamp Rabbits, stated. “Chad has an authentic grit and passion for the game that shines through in his leadership and coaching style, evident in his previous success. As the leader of this hockey team, he brings a young and hungry mindset with a proven winning track record, specifically in the ECHL.
“Chad’s heart for the community is an impactful element of what he brings to the Upstate, and we look forward to the opportunities for our partners, stakeholders, and fans to get to know him as a person.”
A native of Johnston, Iowa, Costello, 38, turned to coaching following a 14-year playing career, the majority of which was played in the ECHL. It was where he cemented himself as one of the best players in the 38-year history of the “Premiere ‘AA’ Hockey League”.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward notched a scorching 561 points (172-389-561) in 375 games as a member of the Allen Americans (2014-17, 2021-22), Ontario Reign (2013-14), Colorado Eagles (2011-13), and Texas Wildcatters (2008), the latter of which he turned professional with following college.
While he garnered ECHL First-Team All-Star and MVP honors with Colorado in 2012, Costello is best known for his work with Allen, where he was the captain for three of his four seasons. He won three consecutive ECHL scoring titles, each with 100-plus-point seasons from 2015-17, back-to-back Kelly Cup Championships in 2015 and 2016, June M. Kelly Playoff MVP honors for the latter, back-to-back ECHL MVP recognitions in 2016 and 2017, and four ECHL All-Star Team Selections (1st Team in 2015, 2016, 2017; 2nd Team in 2022). His No. 13 was retired by the Americans on March 23, 2024.
Photo Courtesy of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits/ECHL