Three Bronco boys hockey coaching positions remain vacant for 2011-12
For the third time in as many seasons, International Falls will have a different head coach in charge of its varsity boys hockey team.
The International Falls School Board on Monday accepted Mike Bolstad’s resignation from the position.
The board last month had approved a series of coaching hirings for 2011-12, but tabled action for a month on whether to approve Bolstad as head boys hockey coach.
When contacted by phone for comment Tuesday morning, Bolstad said he planned to return for next season, but decided to remove himself from consideration after the board had tabled the matter.
“It’s something I had to do,” said Bolstad, who declined to elaborate about why he believed he needed to resign after one season.
Bolstad, who had a 10-15-1 record in 2010-11, replaced John Prettyman, who compiled a record of 97-85-5 in seven seasons.
His hiring as the head boys hockey coach a year ago received statewide attention in light of Falls’ past tradition of hockey excellence in Minnesota.
The Broncos last won a boys hockey state championship in 1995 when Kevin Gordon, Falls’ current head softball coach, was in his first of nine seasons as boys hockey coach.
Bolstad played for the Broncos in the late 1970s when Minnesota coaching icon Larry Ross was the head boys hockey coach and also played hockey at the collegiate level for Providence College.
He said he would like to see the Broncos’ boys hockey program “back where we belong,” and is willing to help out the next head coach, but not in the capacity as an assistant coach.
“I wish the program nothing but the best,” Bolstad said.
Two assistant coaching positions have also been vacated. The board last month accepted the resignations of assistant boys hockey coaches Marc Glowack and George McDonald.
FHS athletic director Don Rolando said the boys hockey coaching vacancies are being advertised to get candidates for the positions, so that they could be filled “as quickly as possible.”
He said both teachers and non-teachers will be considered as long as they are licensed as a coach with the Minnesota State High School League, or would complete the MSHSL licensing course as a stipulation of hiring.
