For the second day in a row John Moore has reported an addition to Ted Nolan’s coaching staff. Today it is Tom Coolen, an assistant on Nolan’s Latvian staff.
Latvian Asst. Coach Tom Coolen will join Nolan’s coaching staff. Expect #Sabres to announce this week. #QMJHL #lhjmq #Wildcats #Axemen
— John Moore (@rinkrant) August 1, 2014
Coolen, 60, has jumped around a lot in his coaching career, including a stop as the head coach of the Moncton Wildcats, just like fellow rumored Sabres assistant Danny Flynn and Nolan himself. Coolen has been with Latvia since 2012. He’s also spent time in Canadian college hockey, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Finland.
Here’s an article about Coolen from the Chronicle Herald, which discusses how he took more of a role with the Latvian team once Nolan was occupied with the Sabres. Coolen served as Latvia’s head coach for exhibitions in Germany during the NHL season.