“It is obvious you have solid perspective on the right way to coach youth hockey players. It is
our job as coaches to make everyone on the roster better, anyone can coach the good ones”
(Taken from a letter to Brian Krenning, from Dan Brennan, manager of Coaching Education Programs, USA Hockey, 2009)
Brian Krenning returns to the Cyclones for the 2013/2014 season. He has spent roughly half of
his 20 year coaching career with the Cyclones. He achieved his level 5 certification from USA
Hockey in November of 2010. Krenning has coached at just about every level, and has even
built a program from the ground up after being transferred to Arkansas many years ago…..not a
hotbed of hockey for sure, but certainly a fun and rewarding experience. “It was fantastic to
see kids who did not know how to put on their equipment in week one, grow and become
hockey players by the end of the season. Most of the kids did not know how to skate, so we
really built something from the ground up”. Brian returned to the Chicagoland area in 2002
and coached with the Cyclones from then until 2012. He also spent 4 years coaching at the
Central States Bantam Development camp at Iowa State University from 2006 to 2010 and
worked the USA National Select 17 camp at St. Cloud State University in 2008. This year he will
coach the Midget A team with the Cyclones.
What motivates Krenning to coach? “Giving back to the great game, developing and sharing
the experience with young adults to help them move through life and benefit from the
experiences that hockey teaches.” Different coaches are rewarded by different occurrences
during a season. For Krenning his best memory of his team from last season was when scouts,
parents, college coaches and referees commented on how disciplined his team played, acted
and how they carried themselves on and off the ice. He does have a sense of humor! Having
lost a bet with his team last year, he had to wear a Rod Stewart wig behind the bench and
believe it or not, many of the parents did not recognize him. Like many coaches in our club,
Krenning has benefitted greatly from his lifelong association with the game.
“I have met some of my closest and best friends through hockey. I have had the
opportunity to work side by side with hall of famers behind the bench and at camps. I have
been able to travel all over the world and meet great people. Some the best conversations
happen on a 10 hour bus ride”
His players will learn the following this season: Work ethic, team play, discipline and respect.
Krenning and his wife Stacey have been married for 22 years and they have two children, Kaitlin
is 20 and Kolin is 19.