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Danton Cole Faces Many Challenges As First Year Spartan Hockey Coach

MSU Athletics

 

With the recent shakeup behind the bench of Michigan State hockey, Danton Cole is now the man in charge. Cole, having only been in East Lansing for a few short months, has already hit the recruiting trail to find future Spartan hockey stars, such as he once was. He joined "Current Sports with Al Martin" to discuss the transition.

 

 

In his four years at Michigan State, Cole won two CCHA regular season titles in 1986 and 1989, along with two CCHA Tournament championships in 1987 and 1989. Cole and the Spartans also made three frozen four appearances in 1986, 1987 and 1989.

 

After his playing days were over, Cole landed his first college job as an assistant at Bowling Green. After one year at BGSU, he was hired as head coach at Alabama-Huntsville where he went 23-59-12 in three seasons.

 

Cole also has some professional hockey experience. He spent three seasons with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins where he made two Calder Cup Playoff appearances in 2003 and 2004.

 

Cole, who coached the USA Hockey National Team Development Program U-17 and U-18 teams before taking the MSU gig, joined Al Martin on WKAR’s “Current Sports” to discuss an array of things including the challenges he faces in terms of navigating NCAA rules when it comes to player availability over the summer.

 

The former hockey star, who was a key member of some of the most successful Spartan hockey teams in program history, ends his interview by conveying a message of support to coach Mark Dantonio and the MSU football program in light of the sexual assault cases involving Josh King, Demetric Vance and Donnie Corley.

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