McSorley steps down as Thunder’s head coach

Tim Graham

Monday, March 9, 1998 | 10:07 a.m.

Less than 24 hours after stepping down from the Las Vegas Thunder, Chris McSorley took another head coaching post.

He fielded telephone propositions from an International Hockey League team and two minor pro organizations over the weekend. But the most attractive call came from an unexpected source.

McSorley accepted an offer from the YMCA to become a volunteer basketball coach for a team of third- and fourth-graders. He starts today.

"They asked if I was still interested in coaching," McSorley said with a chuckle. "It's still in my system. I just gotta find a sport I can win at."

McSorley resigned from the Thunder on Friday with one year left on his four-year contract, the remainder of which the team will honor. His Thunder career record was 125-81-21. In his first campaign he guided the team to a 57- 17-8 mark, winning the regular-season championship with the third-best record in IHL history.

But the Thunder has floundered this season. It was 27-30-6 when McSorley decided he had seen enough. His assistant, Clint Malarchuk, will guide the team the rest of the way. Rod Buskas, a teammate of Malarchuk's on the original Thunder, was hired to help.

"I walk away from the Thunder with a clean conscience that I gave my best effort," said McSorley, who reached his decision with help from general manager Bob Strumm and part-owner Ken Stickney. "Here, it just wasn't fun anymore.

"It affects me when I stand behind the bench at the Thomas & Mack Center and see the people walk in with their heads high, and then 2 1/2 hours later their heads are low. That bothers me.

"I wish I could have delivered a championship to the organization and the fans during my tenure. But I believe strongly in my abilities. I'm quite positive I'll have a job next year."

McSorley, 35, almost left the Thunder earlier this season when he was considered for an assistant coaching vacancy with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. He isn't picky about which league he will find his next job, stating only "I'm going to the best organization where I have a chance to win."