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HARTLAND — Coaching hockey at Hartland High School was Rick Gadwa’s dream job and, to a certain extent, still is.
But after building one of the top programs in Michigan during his 14 years with the Eagles, Gadwa wants to see how far he can go in his coaching career while he still has the chance.
The worst-kept secret in Michigan high school hockey is finally out of the bag, with Gadwa announcing his resignation as Hartland’s coach to pursue other opportunities.
The possibility Gadwa was leaving Hartland was the hot rumor swirling around at the state finals last month. He even raised the possibility with his players in January to avoid a possible distraction if word leaked before the state playoffs.
Hartland athletic director Brian Hassler gave Gadwa time to reconsider before a letter of resignation was submitted late last week.
At age 40, Gadwa has an undisclosed coaching opportunity outside of high school hockey next season that could lead to bigger things. He didn’t want to have regrets years from now that he didn’t step outside of his comfort zone at Hartland to advance in his career.
It was the toughest decision he’s ever made.
“Honestly, it was too difficult,” said Gadwa, a 2003 Hartland graduate who played for the Eagles. “I have no shame in admitting a lot of emotions went through the decision to do it. I still second guess it daily. I don’t think it’s honestly anything I’m completely OK with.
“There’s a big chunk of me that’s going to stay put right in Hartland. I don’t think I ever get to leave. A decision like this, you’ve got to make them and you live with them. Especially on the coaching side of things, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
RELATED:Joey Larson becomes first Hartland HS player to sign National Hockey League contract
Gadwa is one of the most successful high school coaches in Livingston County history.
He compiled a 295-83-15 record with nine 20-win seasons, winning state Division 2 championships in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Hartland established itself as a burgeoning state power by reaching the Division 2 finals in his second and third seasons, losing to Livonia Stevenson in 2013 and Trenton in 2014.
His three state championships tie him for the second most by a coach in county history. Brighton’s Paul Moggach has the record with five hockey state championships. Brighton’s Bob Ritsema and Pinckney’s Tom Carney also have three state titles, both in cross country.
Only four other coaches have won two state championships.
“I never expected it to happen as early as it did,” Gadwa said. “A very strong mentor for me, a guy who coached me growing up, told me from the very beginning it takes five years to build a program. I remember laughing with him after year two and saying, ‘Hey, we did it in year two.’ I know what he meant, because it wasn’t until year five when you really felt like now you have some tradition. It’s built into your program and things start to carry over, not just from the coach, but the program side of things.”
2018 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:'It's just crazy': Hartland wins first state hockey title over Trenton
2019 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:Dominant Hartland repeats as state hockey champion
2022 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:Hartland wins state hockey title on freshman overtime goal
Hartland became everything Gadwa dreamed it could be when he applied for the job as a young coach before the 2011-12 season.
“I remember walking into the interview process with my A.D., who was Jason Reck at the time,” Gadwa said. “One of the first things I told him was, ‘I bleed blue and gold.’ That hasn’t changed. I can’t say my passion for Hartland and for high school hockey has changed, but what has changed is my experience level and really learning the game at this level for a long period of time and, if I’m being completely honest, wanting more for it.”
Another factor that pushed Gadwa out the door was frustration with how hockey is treated by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
It isn’t just the fact that his second-ranked Eagles and top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central were suddenly placed in the same regional for the first time, though it didn’t help. He also would like to see more changes, like allowing coaches to work with their own players in the offseason instead of doling out the responsibility to coaches who aren’t associated with the program.
“If I could wave my magic wand, I’d allow coaches to work with their players year-round if they wanted to, because the game’s essentially become year-round” Gadwa said. “I’d adopt one of our other playoff models, whether it’s even the way lacrosse does it, basically putting the top-ranked teams in separate regionals.”
Hassler said he’s already had inquiries about the job, even though it wasn’t officially posted until Tuesday. One person in the program who has expressed interest is John Brown, who coaches Hartland’s varsity “B” team.
“I’ve only been here a short time, but in that short time Rick has been one of those coaches that obviously put the time in, he’s built that program up to a level that has been one of the top teams in the state,” Hassler said. “He does it the right way. He builds great relationships with the community and kids. It’s definitely a tough spot to fill, but it’s one of our flagship programs and I think it’ll draw some good candidates.”
Gadwa’s resignation became official at the same time the greatest player he coached, forward Joey Larson, became the first Hartland player to sign a National Hockey League contract.
Larson led the Eagles to their first two state championships and was Mr. Hockey in 2018-19. He said Gadwa’s presence made it easier for him to leave the AAA ranks to play three seasons at Hartland.
“He’s a great coach, but even a better person,” Larson said. “It was an honor to play for him and Hartland. They really helped develop me into the player I am today.
“He did a great job of talking to me about high school hockey and essentially convincing me to go there. He wanted me to go there for the right reason. It obviously paid off.”
Contact Bill Khan at [email protected]. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Rick Gadwa steps down as coach of Michigan hockey power Hartland
Continue reading...
But after building one of the top programs in Michigan during his 14 years with the Eagles, Gadwa wants to see how far he can go in his coaching career while he still has the chance.
The worst-kept secret in Michigan high school hockey is finally out of the bag, with Gadwa announcing his resignation as Hartland’s coach to pursue other opportunities.
The possibility Gadwa was leaving Hartland was the hot rumor swirling around at the state finals last month. He even raised the possibility with his players in January to avoid a possible distraction if word leaked before the state playoffs.
Hartland athletic director Brian Hassler gave Gadwa time to reconsider before a letter of resignation was submitted late last week.
At age 40, Gadwa has an undisclosed coaching opportunity outside of high school hockey next season that could lead to bigger things. He didn’t want to have regrets years from now that he didn’t step outside of his comfort zone at Hartland to advance in his career.
It was the toughest decision he’s ever made.
“Honestly, it was too difficult,” said Gadwa, a 2003 Hartland graduate who played for the Eagles. “I have no shame in admitting a lot of emotions went through the decision to do it. I still second guess it daily. I don’t think it’s honestly anything I’m completely OK with.
“There’s a big chunk of me that’s going to stay put right in Hartland. I don’t think I ever get to leave. A decision like this, you’ve got to make them and you live with them. Especially on the coaching side of things, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
RELATED:Joey Larson becomes first Hartland HS player to sign National Hockey League contract
Gadwa is one of the most successful high school coaches in Livingston County history.
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He compiled a 295-83-15 record with nine 20-win seasons, winning state Division 2 championships in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Hartland established itself as a burgeoning state power by reaching the Division 2 finals in his second and third seasons, losing to Livonia Stevenson in 2013 and Trenton in 2014.
His three state championships tie him for the second most by a coach in county history. Brighton’s Paul Moggach has the record with five hockey state championships. Brighton’s Bob Ritsema and Pinckney’s Tom Carney also have three state titles, both in cross country.
Only four other coaches have won two state championships.
“I never expected it to happen as early as it did,” Gadwa said. “A very strong mentor for me, a guy who coached me growing up, told me from the very beginning it takes five years to build a program. I remember laughing with him after year two and saying, ‘Hey, we did it in year two.’ I know what he meant, because it wasn’t until year five when you really felt like now you have some tradition. It’s built into your program and things start to carry over, not just from the coach, but the program side of things.”
2018 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:'It's just crazy': Hartland wins first state hockey title over Trenton
2019 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:Dominant Hartland repeats as state hockey champion
2022 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:Hartland wins state hockey title on freshman overtime goal
Hartland became everything Gadwa dreamed it could be when he applied for the job as a young coach before the 2011-12 season.
“I remember walking into the interview process with my A.D., who was Jason Reck at the time,” Gadwa said. “One of the first things I told him was, ‘I bleed blue and gold.’ That hasn’t changed. I can’t say my passion for Hartland and for high school hockey has changed, but what has changed is my experience level and really learning the game at this level for a long period of time and, if I’m being completely honest, wanting more for it.”
Another factor that pushed Gadwa out the door was frustration with how hockey is treated by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
It isn’t just the fact that his second-ranked Eagles and top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central were suddenly placed in the same regional for the first time, though it didn’t help. He also would like to see more changes, like allowing coaches to work with their own players in the offseason instead of doling out the responsibility to coaches who aren’t associated with the program.
“If I could wave my magic wand, I’d allow coaches to work with their players year-round if they wanted to, because the game’s essentially become year-round” Gadwa said. “I’d adopt one of our other playoff models, whether it’s even the way lacrosse does it, basically putting the top-ranked teams in separate regionals.”
Hassler said he’s already had inquiries about the job, even though it wasn’t officially posted until Tuesday. One person in the program who has expressed interest is John Brown, who coaches Hartland’s varsity “B” team.
“I’ve only been here a short time, but in that short time Rick has been one of those coaches that obviously put the time in, he’s built that program up to a level that has been one of the top teams in the state,” Hassler said. “He does it the right way. He builds great relationships with the community and kids. It’s definitely a tough spot to fill, but it’s one of our flagship programs and I think it’ll draw some good candidates.”
Gadwa’s resignation became official at the same time the greatest player he coached, forward Joey Larson, became the first Hartland player to sign a National Hockey League contract.
Larson led the Eagles to their first two state championships and was Mr. Hockey in 2018-19. He said Gadwa’s presence made it easier for him to leave the AAA ranks to play three seasons at Hartland.
“He’s a great coach, but even a better person,” Larson said. “It was an honor to play for him and Hartland. They really helped develop me into the player I am today.
“He did a great job of talking to me about high school hockey and essentially convincing me to go there. He wanted me to go there for the right reason. It obviously paid off.”
Contact Bill Khan at [email protected]. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Rick Gadwa steps down as coach of Michigan hockey power Hartland
Continue reading...
