WMU’s Culhane coaches one last time

By Kristen Vermetten
Western Herald

It has been a roller coaster of emotions this week for the Western Michigan University hockey team.

Culhane

Six graduating seniors are saying “sayonara” to the Brown and Gold and the coaching staff is joining them.

Head coach Jim Culhane was released from the Western Michigan University hockey team on Feb. 18.

With one year left in his contract, WMU offered him an alternate position within the Athletic Department.

“There is nothing more that I want to see succeed than this hockey program, this athletic department, and this university,” Culhane said. “I am thankful for the opportunity this university gave me as a student athlete, as a young coach coming in, and to be head coach for 11 years. Now, there is another way I am going to be able to help and give back.”
Culhane has been with the university for 26 years, since he was a “snotty nose 18-year-old” on the hockey team. Kalamazoo has become home for him and his family.

“I am very thankful to the university. They have presented an opportunity for me in the development office, one that, obviously, I am appreciative of. But right now, my focus is on the kids and the team,” Culhane said.

“I think when my tenure is concluded I am going to need to decompress for a bit and spend some time with my family and figure things out; but at the end of the day, I have been a part of this university for 26 years and this is home.”

Culhane has no ill will against the new coach coming in or the administration for their decision.

He said he looks forward with warm feelings of encouragement to the team and departing seniors.

“It is a real surreal feeling, that’s the way to describe everything. I told the guys I am here through this, there has never been any quitting in any of us and there won’t be as long as I am here,” Culhane said.

“For right now I am trying to really encourage them as much as we can and talk about character, pride, and respect. It all comes down to you as an individual and how you’re wired. At the end of the day, I want them to be able to walk out of here with their heads held high. I know I am, and I don’t want them to hang up that jersey and regret something because you never get it back. I want to make sure they understand and think about that and be mentally prepared for that.”

On Saturday, the Broncos will be facing off with the Ferris State University hockey team at Lawson Ice Arena for their final conference game and senior night.

The game will be filled with emotion, but fans can expect the team to play hard.

“Obviously everything that has gone on here in the last little while has been pretty emotional, pretty difficult for everyone involved,” Culhane said. “They’ve done everything to the best of their ability, the seniors and the underclassman.

“I appreciate the efforts by everybody and moving forward all of these guys will have a chance to play, at what level I am not sure, but they will all have an opportunity to play professionally and figure out where that journey will take them. At the end of the day, they’re walking out of here as responsible men with a great appreciation to give back to their communities and I am so proud of that.”

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Posted by heraldstaff on Feb 25 2010. Filed under Breaking, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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