Thunder begins search for new coach

Tim Graham

Wednesday, June 3, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

The Las Vegas Thunder is in no rush, but it's wasting no time.

Thunder general manager Bob Strumm was sent scrambling for a new head coach when Clint Malarchuk signed a contract on Tuesday with the Idaho Steelheads of the West Coast Hockey League.

But fortunately for the Thunder, Strumm is a man who doesn't like to be unprepared. He already has been in touch with four possible replacements and has met face-to-face with two. He claims all four are interested in the opening.

"We had a just-in-case short list," Strumm said from Chicago, where he is attending the IHL general manager meetings. "There's four names on it, and I'm kind of sniffing those out.

"There's some real interesting people out there."

Strumm declined to reveal the names on the list, but noted all were qualified.

"Everybody has at least experience at this level and, in a couple cases, at the NHL level," he said.

Malarchuk's successor, however, doesn't necessarily have to come from Strumm's short list. Strumm is willing to expand the search and possibly wait until the NHL Draft on June 27 to shore up the opening.

"In a couple of cases, if it's somebody from the short list, we'd be prepared to move as early as next week," Strumm said. "But some guys want to see what else is out there, and sometimes things don't open up totally until draft time."

The new head coach will be the fifth in the Thunder's five-year history. Butch Goring, currently with the Utah Grizzlies, lasted only as long as the team's inaugural campaign of 1993-94. Strumm guided the Thunder the next year before turning the reins over to Chris McSorley.

Malarchuk, who had been with the organization either on the ice or in the front office since it was founded, became coach No. 4 when McSorley resigned in March.

Strumm didn't expect to hire a fifth.

"I was shocked with Clint's decision, but I certainly understand and wish him well," Strumm said. "He's been a great part of our run in Vegas.

"We felt the opportunity here was the best opportunity, but other factors entered into the decision. When a man of his character makes a decision, you have to respect it."

Malarchuk had several reasons to leave: He felt insulted by the Thunder's one-year offer; he was concerned with the team's perceived instability and soon-to-be-expired lease with the Thomas & Mack Center; and Boise is much closer to his hometown of Calgary and his wife Christy's Northern Nevada roots.

So Malarchuk -- the only player in Thunder history to have his jersey retired -- accepted a three-year offer worth a reported $65,000 from the Steelheads.

"The tough thing for me is what began as a general manager-player relationship grew into a great friendship over five years," Strumm said. "I'm flat-out going to miss him from that standpoint."