Pat Mikesch was introduced as the new head coach of the Toledo Walleye yesterday afternoon. Here's what he had to say
On Friday afternoon in Toledo, Pat Mikesch was formally introduced as the new head coach of the Toledo Walleye, meeting with the media for the first time.
Walleye President and CEO Joe Napoli introduced Mikesch, noting that outgoing coach Dan Watson, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, and Nick Vitucci—the Walleye's coach before Lalonde—helped the franchise arrive at a new hire, with further assistance from Shawn Horcoff, GM of the Grand Grand Rapids Griffins and assistant Red Wings GM.
Until Mikesch assumes his new post behind the Toledo bench this fall, Vitucci, Lalonde, and Watson will remain the only three men to ever coach a Walleye game.
Mikesch held up a powder blue and white Walleye sweater before he spoke. At which point, he told of "an amazing process to get here." He explained with a smile that he first encountered Toledo as a player back in the ECHL, which he was held out of because of the injurious nature of pre-season hockey in that day.
"The three [former Walleye] coaches were very involved in the process, and I learned a lot about the organization," Mikesch said. "It's an amazing opportunity, and I can't wait to follow Dan's footsteps."
"Expectations are there," Mikesch continued. "We talked a lot about that [throughout] this entire process. With a fan base like we have in Toledo, there's an expectation that we keep moving forward. I've worked now with Brent [Bain] and Alden [Hirschfield, Toledo's assistants who will be staying on through the transition from the Watson regime to the Mikesch one] this week. I arrived on Monday, and I love the detail that they bring every day. They are gonna make me a better coach. They are gonna make me a better general manager. They're gonna prepare me for things that I haven't absorbed yet about the East Coast League, and I'm so lucky to have those two joining me right from the start."
"It's great to be part of this great organization, this sports community, and I can't wait to move forward," said Mikesch by way of conclusion.