Cronin Named Head Coach of NHL’s Anaheim Ducks
Jun 5, 2023
WINDSOR, CO. – The Colorado Eagles, proud AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, have announced that Greg Cronin has been named the head coach of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Cronin spent five seasons as the Eagles bench boss, compiling a record of 164-104-30 and leading the team to Calder Cup Playoff appearances three times, with the AHL postseason being cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. In addition, the Arlington, Massachusetts native coached over a dozen players who would make their NHL debut after spending time under his tutelage in Loveland.
“I am so thankful for my time with the Colorado Eagles,” said Cronin. “What an amazing organization. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the Colorado Eagles. The fan support and the leadership from Eagles owner Martin Lind are absolutely unprecedented. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in Northern Colorado and interacting with the incredible community there. I want to personally thank everyone in Eagles Country for the amazing five years that I enjoyed with you.”
Cronin has spent four decades in coaching, including 12 years as an assistant in the NHL and two additional seasons as a head coach at the AHL level. He spent four years on the New York Islanders' coaching staff, serving three seasons as an assistant before being promoted to Associate Coach in 2017-18. It marked his second stint with the Islanders, as he previously was an assistant coach with the team from 1998 to 2003. Prior to his recent time in New York, Cronin was an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons from 2011-14, helping the Leafs to their first playoff appearance in nine years in 2013.
Cronin served two seasons as head coach of the Islanders' AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, from 2003-05. He led the Sound Tigers to the playoffs during his first season in 2003-04 with a record of 41-23-16 (98 points).
Following his time with Bridgeport, Cronin spent six seasons as the head coach at Northeastern University from 2005-06 to 2010-11. He helped rebuild the Huskies program, improving from three wins in his first season to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2009, the school's first in 15 years. That season, he won the Hockey East's Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award.
Cronin was an assistant coach at the University of Maine (1988-90, 1993-95) and Colorado College (1990-93), and also spent time as interim head coach at both institutions as well (Colorado College in 1992 and Maine in 1995-96). Following a four-year playing career at Colby College (1982-86), Cronin began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1987-88.
One of the co-founders of the United States National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cronin served as the head coach and director of player development for the U.S. Under-18 Team for two years from 1996-98. Internationally, Cronin worked as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1997, 2011 and 2012 IIHF World Championship, as well as the 1997 and 1998 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped the U.S. Junior National Team to a silver medal in 1997.
Cronin earned a master’s degree in business at the University of Maine in 1990, while serving as a graduate assistant for the hockey team.
