Program Staff

The Coaching Education Program is a national program.  Administratively, the program is part of the Hockey Development Department, led by Bob Mancini. There is also a National Volunteer leader of the program, who is a member of USA Hockey's Board of Directors.  He is also the Coaching Section Director and National Coach in Chief.  The position is currently occupied by Mike MacMillan of the Minnesota District.  Each of USA Hockey's 13 districts has a leader of their respective coaching programs, known as the District Coach-In-Chief.  The Michigan District Coach-in-Chief is currently Matt Kakabeeke of Kalamazoo.

The Coaching Education Program also maintains connections with youth coaches in their local hockey association.   Matt leads his staff of Coach Developers, or Instructors, who form the core group  which delivers coach education.   These people, scattered throughout Michigan, also attempt to identify a local Coaching Director in each youth hockey association.  Local Coaching Directors serve as the voice of their coaches in duties assigned by their local association's board of directors.   Every hockey association and club should have someone on their board to represent the coaches in that organization, because coaches are the closest to the players who the association/club serves.