BLOG: Peter Laviolette
On Coaching
By Bill Campbell
This is about coaching generally but, specifically, coaching by Peter Laviolette.
Somewhat shaky coaching names entered the sports headlines over the weekend, hardly gushing with praise. With Jeff Fisher departing from Tennessee, Andy Reid enters the scene of leading the NFL in coaching longevity. But there was a headline the other day suggesting that perhaps his grip on the Good Ship Eagles may be loosening. That remains to be seen. Many of the Eagles coaches and assistants have already moved along and a successor to Sean McDermott has taken quite some time to find. Former 76ers coach, Jim O'Brien, was just fired the other day in Indiana. Jay Wright has just lost his third game at Villanova before many Wildcat fans were ready for it. And Phil Martelli is having a very bumpy rode at St. Joe's. No job attracts negative comments like that of a coach, no matter the game or how undeserving. Smooth coaching could hardly have been expected at St. Joe's with such a young, inexperienced squad. But I've been wondering why more fans and observers aren't saying nice things about the job Peter Laviolette is doing with the Flyers.
Laviolette spent the past weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he once coached – in fact where he won the Stanley Cup in 2006 only to be fired 2 years later. Laviolette really introduced NHL hockey to the people of the Carolinas. He raised his 3 kids for the better part of their young lives there. He loves the place and returned there the other day to coach in the NHL All Star Game. He talked about the life of a coach on Saturday when he said, "The hiring and firing you almost have to expect when you sign on for this job. No matter the game you know at some point there's a chance you can get fired and it's never easy when it happens." Delving further into the philosophy of coaching he explained additionally, "Usually it's because your team is not going the way you want. It's always better on the way in than on the way out. But overall, it's something you just deal with as best you can."
Laviolette returned to Raleigh the other day with no bitterness. He has been there coaching other teams including the Flyers. But this All Star trip was more of an individual experience putting him in the spotlight. His memories of the people and community of the Carolinas are great. As he pointed out last week, he lived there for 5 years -- for him, a pretty long time to be settled. His kids went to school there; his wife and he made special friends there. They enjoyed their time. There were lots of sleepovers in his family on Thursday and Friday night and into the weekends with kids going in all different directions. They met people for lunch and planned to meet others later. They have a lot of great memories outside of the game. The Carolinas have been a big part of their lives.
Because of the Carolina Hurricanes championship about 5 years ago, the sport of hockey has made great inroads in the Carolinas and Laviolette and his team had much to do with that. I'm told that you now see a lot of tail-gaters before home games. Big crowds attended the NHL Fan Fair which was full of hockey-related activities during All Star weekend. As Laviolette puts it, "They've really taken to the game in Raleigh. Ownership has put a competitive team on the ice and the fans have supported it through the years." People's kids are playing hockey these days in the Carolinas and the youth base has grown. From Raleigh after the All Star game, the coach headed for Tampa-St. Petersburg and another Flyers push toward what he hopes will be another favorable run towards a Stanley Cup. The end of the road came in the finals last year and they hope that one more step is very near.
Laviolette was individually introduced as one of the All Star coaches on Sunday and received a loud, standing ovation. He admitted he was touched by the recognition and Danny Brier, one of his All Star players, said the reception for the coach gave him chills. As Laviolette explained it, "When you win a championship, you share it not only with the players but with the fans as well. It's a very special time." And one of the little noticed rewards of coaching. The Flyers can improve in two special areas this season -- more consistent special teams and taking fewer penalties – which would make it possible to take that final championship step.
