Texas Stars Head Coach Candidates Abound, But Who Is the Right Fit?

(Credit: Logan Foust/Texas Stars)

With the summer screaming on ahead with no stop, the Texas Stars coaching search is in full swing. It's the first time since 2014 that the role has truly been open. That summer saw Willie Desjardins depart for Vancouver. Derek Laxdal, previously with Idaho but just recently coming off successes with Edmonton in the WHL, stepped into the role until 2019. That transition, triggered by Jim Montgomery's departure, was fully orchestrated, so there was no opening.

Now, Neil Graham is in Dallas, and Texas needs a bench boss.

There are a few different ways that coaches come to the AHL. Let's go over a few.

• First of all, there's the clear step up role, where an assistant, either with the team or elsewhere in the league, moves up into a head coach role. You may also see ECHL head coaches elevated to AHL head coaching roles.
• Similar to the NHL, you can also have retreads where a coach who's been a few spots gets another gig in the league.
• Sometimes you will see coaches step down to step up where a coach without head coaching experience moves from the NHL assistant role to a head coach role in hopes of returning to the NHL in the pilot chair.
• There are also professional proof hires where a head coach is well-established or regarded in another league that is not considered professional such as the CHL or maybe even overseas and makes a move to establish their pro credentials for the NHL.

Among Texas head coaches of seasons past, we've had:

• Glen Gulutzan: Step up candidate who was previously coaching in the ECHL before Texas
• Jeff Pyle: Step up candidate from Gwinnett (now Atlanta) who did not pass muster and went back to the ECHL
• Willie Desjardins: Step down to step up candidate who was the associate coach in Dallas and went to Texas to nurture prospects but also to earn his pro head coaching stripes
• Derek Laxdal: Because of Laxdal's previous time in Idaho, he's not a pure professional proof hire, but you could certainly make that argument, and I will.
• Neil Graham: Step up from Idaho and then from the assistant role. 

So now let's get into it. Who are the potentials? Let's be clear that this is not an exhaustive list and hasn't been verified against any insider knowledge yet. There will be a few obvious ones. There might be a few less obvious ones.

After Graham was elevated, I spoke with Texas Stars GM Scott White, who told me the process was just beginning and did not have a timeline. While I take him at his word, I also would not be surprised if we have an announcement pretty quickly. Like any good manager in hockey or not, White probably had a few ideas on candidates he wanted to interview in the file marked "Succession Planning".

Travis Morin, Asst. Coach, Texas Stars (AHL)

Playing career (Center)
175-386=561 in 691 regular season AHL games, all but five of them with Texas
23-41=64 in 87 postseason AHL games, all with Texas
AHL Calder Cup champion, league MVP, playoff MVP (2014)
0-1=1 in 13 NHL games, all with Dallas

Coaching career
Assistant coach for Texas (AHL) since 2019 (6 seasons)

Maxime Fortunus, Asst. Coach, Texas Stars (AHL)

Playing career (Defense)
76-210=286 in 882 regular season AHL games, including six seasons in Texas
6-25=31 in 118 postseason AHL games
Captain of Texas' only Calder Cup champion team
0-1=1 in 9 regular season NHL games
Finished career in Germany for 3 seasons

Coaching career
Assistant coach for Texas (AHL) since 2021 (4 seasons)

Together behind the bench and in their playing career, they'll also be together in this analysis. Have you ever had an opening on the team at work and maybe you interview for the role even if it might not be a 100% fit right now because you're curious what it would take to get to that next level? I get the feeling this is the vibe for these two candidates. If they're interested, they'll get interviews by virtue of standing on the bench for the last six and four seasons, respectively, in Cedar Park. Texas has been exceptional during that time, not missing the postseason once and cooking on the power play and penalty kill with regularity.

I don't know if either coach has the aspiration to be a head though from my own knowledge. From my perspective in the media, I'm not sure Travis Morin would ever want to talk to the cameras after a game, but a head coach's job is far far more than just that.

Greg Rallo, Asst. Coach, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Playing career (Center)
165-177=342 in 615 regular season AHL games, including five seasons with Texas
7-13=20 in 63 postseason AHL games
1-0=1 in 11 NHL games, all with Florida
Won 2007 Kelly Cup with Idaho

Coaching career
Assistant coach for Milwakee (AHL) since 2018 (7 seasons, including the COVID year with Chicago)

Once upon a time, I left a job and when my boss asked why I didn't stay I told him, "I'm not sure if I stay here another five years if I'm going to get five years of experience or the same year of experience five times."

After seven seasons in Milwaukee under Karl Taylor (and being pretty darn good during that time), is there anything left for Greg Rallo to learn? I understand from others that Rallo does have head coach aspirations.

This is also an interesting history hire as Texas GM Scott White had Rallo on his Iowa Stars team, signed him to a PTO in 2009 and then brought him back to the organization after he left to play for Florida/San Antonio. The team overall seems to have certain guys they will bring back, and Rallo fits the bill for me.

Everett Sheen, Head Coach, Idaho Steelheads (ECHL)

Playing career (Left wing)
48-89=137 in 319 regular season ECHL games
9-7=16 in 44 postseason ECHL games

Coaching career
Assistant coach for Idaho (ECHL) from 2016-2019
Head coach and director of hockey ops for Idaho since 2019

Same as Neil Graham had a chance to step up, Everett Sheen will get an interview if he wants one, I imagine. Graham had Sheen as his assistant when the two were in Idaho from 2016-19.

I'll say as a note here for Sheen and others below. Do not discount a coaching candidate because of their playing career. Graham never played higher than the ECHL, for example. I really believe there's a reason Wayne Gretzky didn't succeed as a coach. Everything came naturally to him. He didn't have to study the game and improve himself the same way that other players did. Grinders make better coaches than superstars, often times. OK, now hold that thought in your head as we transition to...

Stu Barnes, most recently Head Coach, Tri-City American (WHL)

Playing career (Center)
261-336=597 in 1136 regular season NHL games, including five season in Dallas
30-32=62 in 116 postseason NHL games

Coaching career
Has owned the Tri-City Americans since 2005
Assistant coach for Dallas from 2008-2011 and 2017-19, team consultant in 2011-12
Head coach for Tri-City (WHL) from 2021-2025

Ever since joining Dallas at the 2003 Trade Deadline, Barnes has in and out of the organization. He played five seasons, coached for another half dozen and served as a team consultant for a year. His only other NHL flirtation was two years as a pro scout with Seattle.

Since 2005, he has owned the WHL's Tri-City Americans, which is where he played his final two junior seasons. He has an "Original American" as a player on the inaugural team in 1988-89. His #14 is in the rafters and he had been behind the bench since 2021. That's 'had been' because he announced this May that he was leaving Tri-City to pursue other professional opportunities.

Is that next role the head coach of Texas?

Chris Lazary, Head Coach, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Playing career (Defense and right wing)
4-14=19 in 68 games across various junior leagues

Coaching career
Junior and collegiate roles from 2010-14
Assistant coach for Sarnia (OHL) from 2014-16
Associate coach for Saginaw (OHL) from 2016-18
Head coach for Saginaw (OHL) since 2018
Assistant coach for Canada's WJC team in 2025

Lazary is regarded as a smart, up-and-coming coach, as evidenced by his selection to be part of the Canadian coaching staff for the World Juniors last year. The writeup on him being named to that role is actually a pretty good summary of his career to that point, including the Spirit's first Memorial Cup in 2024. 

Watch him talk through his team's win on The Coaches Site.

The author of the post wrapping the video notes that Lazary is quick to admit that changes he made in the second intermission were mistakes. A good mix of humility and excellence in that clip. Of course, it's also easier to admit your mistakes when you won the ultimate prize.

Since then, he completed the 2024-25 season with Saginaw, losing in the first round of the OHL playoffs after going 38-27-2-1 in the season.

Jussi Ahokas, Head Coach, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Playing career (Goalie)
Limited stats available for time in Finland
Single BCHL game with Victoria in 1998-99

Coaching career
Head coaching roles with Finnish national teams from U16 to U20 from 2004-19
Head coach for KooKoo (SM-liiga) from 2019-2021
Head coach for TPS (SM-liiga) from 2021-2023
Head coach for Kitchener (OHL) since 2023

A European import coach who has spent the last two seasons in the OHL, Ahokas has gotten some NHL interest at the assistant level also. He's the first European head coach in the OHL and coached the 2019 Finnish World Junior team to gold. Honestly, if you want to know more about his background, check out his biography on The Coaches Site as well. You can also watch his interview about his coaching philosophy and many other things here on the same site's Glass & Out podcast.