Report: Tony Granato to Coach Wisconsin

CHN Staff Report

Multiple reports have Wisconsin hiring famed alumnus Tony Granato to be its new head coach. Both ESPN's Jon Bucigross and USCHO reported it Sunday morning.

Granato would be replacing Mike Eaves, who was fired last week after the Badgers were eliminated from the Big Ten tournament.

The 51-year old Granato played 774 NHL games with the Rangers, Los Angeles and San Jose form 1988-01. He was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team, and played for Team USA World Junior and Canada Cup teams. He scored an even 100 goals at Wisconsin from 1983-87.

Granato's coaching experience is all at the NHL level. Following his playing days, he became an assistant coach at Colorado, then took over as head coach during the 2002-03 season. He had one full year the following season, but then came the NHL lockout, and when played returned, he was moved back to assistant coach. He then had one more season as head coach of the Avalanche in 2008-09 before getting let go. Since then, he has been assistant coach at Pittsburgh and Detroit, where he is now, working under former Western Michigan head coach Jeff Blashill.

According to the reports, Don Granato and Mark Osiecki, two more fellow alums, will be the assistants.

Osiecki is currently assistant coach of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, and was the head coach at Ohio State for three years before getting fired.

Don Granato, has also spent most of his time coaching in the pros, including one season as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues. He was most recently head coach in the U.S. National program.