The Colorado Avalanche front office staff has finally filled all of the coaching vacancies within the organization, the last of which being an assistant coaching position with the Colorado Eagles, their AHL affiliate in Loveland. The Avalanche organization announced this morning that Derek Army will be joining new head coach Mark Letestu's coaching staff up the hockey highway in Loveland. Army, 34, is fresh off a successful season coaching the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, to 8th overall league-wide. He acted as head coach and Director of Player Operations for the Nailers during the 2024-25 season. Army is a legacy among the coaching staff within the Colorado organization. His father, Tim Army, was a video coach and assistant coach for the Avalanche from 2011 to 2017. Tim is currently an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks. The former professional player is just the latest addition to the organization's coaching staff, rounding out three vacancies that needed filling following the departures of Aaron Schneekloth (Seattle Kraken assistant coach) and Dan Hinote (Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach), as well as the firing of Avalanche assistant coach Ray Bennett. Letestu was named as the Eagles' head coach [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/former-penguins-forward-lands-exciting-new-gig] on July 5th. Former Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol was named to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar's assistant coaching squad [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/dave-hakstol-joins-jared-bednar-s-staff-as-the-newest-assistant-head-coach-of-the-colorado-avalanche] on July 8th. As of Monday, July 14th, Colorado can officially cross "fill all coaching vacancies" off of their to-do list for the season. ICYMI: JOSH MANSON EXTENSION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue! Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/] to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more! Follow Bailey Curtis on X [https://x.com/baileyycurtis] and stay up to date on live news stories following all things Colorado hockey!
