Post by GoVoysGo on Nov 20, 2014 8:55:40 GMT -5
Ronel Fires Self, McLemon; Hires Dirk, Nolan
TFHN - Daniel Ronel, Nov. 20
Seattle, WA • Okay, we know that you can't actually technically fire yourself. But do you honestly think we would get as many views had I titled it "Ronel Steps Down"?
Anyways...
There's only so much you can't do with so much talent.
Rod McLemon seems to know this. Unfortunately, he pushed the limits to this fact, performing well below the Seattle Blazers' projections. Daniel Ronel has done a solid job improving the team, but absolutely nothing seems to work. There seemed to be speculation that a loss to Milwaukee potentially could be enough to put the coach out of his job, but Ronel pulled the trigger even earlier. It was no secret Ronel had been talking to a few potential replacement options. Former Buffalo Slugs coach Ed Nolan, Seattle Blazers alumni Jeremy Groanick, OHL coach Doug GilLess, and recently fired ex-Red Deer Blades coach Ben Mitchflock appear to be the frontrunner. Sources claim Ronel also contacted former NHL coach Mike Keegan, who recently won the KHL's Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, but it appears Keegan is quite content in Russia.
As we now know, Nolan got the position.
It will be interesting to see if he can reboot a struggling, underperforming franchise the same way Blake Mabcock recently did with Red Deer. He is certainly capable of it. Quite honestly, it's pretty amazing that Nolan has been unemployed for so long.
If that wasn't enough, Ronel decided enough was enough, and stepped down as General Manager. There had been no rumours or even inkling of a thought that he might do so. The replacement is the notorious Bryan Dirk, who becomes the first non-ownership GM of Seattle since the days of Doug Nilson.
There is really only one explanation for Ronel's decision: he needed to change something up. He had actually been doing a good job, much better than last season, anyways.
More on the story later.