New Knoxville Bench Boss

The Knoxville Ice Bears pick a winner as their new Head Coach.

The search for a new head coach has ended for the Knoxville Ice Bears. The search began after former head coach Scott Hillman resigned on May 31 to take a head coaching job with a Central Hockey League expansion team in Independence, Missouri. The Knoxville Ice Bears have named Marc Rodgers as their new bench boss. The decision to promote Rodgers from assistant coach to head coach was made this week, and will be effectively immediately.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to take over as head coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears. It has been a rewarding experience to be a part of hockey in Knoxville in several different capacities, and I am looking forward to the challenges that this role is going to present,” said Marc Rodgers.

Marc Rodgers has an extensive hockey career that includes several leagues, such as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), ECHL, International Hockey League (IHL), American Hockey League (AHL), Deutsche Eishockey Liga (a German ice hockey league referred to as DEL), National Hockey League (NHL) and the United Hockey League (UHL). He began his playing career as a right wing/center in Granby, Quebec for the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL. Rodgers was there for 3 years and Verdun, Quebec for 1 year, where he won the league championship. He played 11 years of pro hockey, winning two championships with the Utah Grizzlies of the IHL and also for Chicago Wolves in the IHL. Rodgers had a brief stint in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in 1999-2000 playing 21 games.

He is no stranger to Knoxville. Rodgers was a member of the Knoxville Cherokees (ECHL) during the 1993-94 season, and then came back to play with the Knoxville Speed (UHL) in 2001. He became the assistant coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears in 2006.

“Marc Rodgers has been a common denominator for the Ice Bears during the past three seasons. Much of what he has contributed has been behind-the-scenes, and our fans may not realize what a big role he has played in the success of this organization. It was a difficult decision because we had so many qualified candidates, but I feel that Marc can not only be successful, but make our team better. I am very excited to name him as the fourth head coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears,” commented president and general manager Mike Murray.

Marc is a native of Shawville, Quebec and lives full time with his family of four in Knoxville in the Gibbs community. His wife, Sheridee is from Knoxville and his two children are Dalton (10 years old), born in Adirondack NY, and Garrett (8 years old), born in Knoxville.

Rodgers was one of 36 applicants for the Ice Bears vacant head coaching job. In addition to his assistant coaching duties with the Ice Bears the past 3 years, he's worked full time as a firefighter with Knox County's Rural Metro Fire Department.