Sorry about that, the message didn't paste right...anyway, here is a
story I did on former Maine coach Greg Cronin who is coaching for the
National Team Development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. It appeared in
Friday's The Maine Campus.
 
By Bill Stewart
 
A year has passed since former men's hockey coach Greg Cronin last
called the shots behind the Black Bear bench. An arduous and stressful
year, however, for a man who struggled to find his identity while
living in Maine, a place he still holds in high regard.
After filling in for then-suspended coach Shawn Walsh at the tail end
of 1995 through a portion of '96, Cronin is carving a niche for himself
in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he is a coach for the National Team
Development Program.
After spending more than twelve years in the collegiate ranks,
including two stints that covered six-and-a-half years  as a Black
Bear, Cronin teamed up with former Lake Superior State coach Jeff
Jackson to coach for USA Hockey. He went 21-13-2 while serving as head
coach at the University of Maine.
Although it is a significant opportunity for Cronin and his future
coaching plans, he says it comes with a price.
The grueling schedules, draining road trips and a seemingly infinite
number of miles away from home have taken its toll on the Colby College
graduate.
"It's probably the most time-consuming job I've ever had," Cronin said.
"It's a different schedule than college  not as balanced  and it has
been a little bit of a social suicide out here."
"It's an energy drainer," he added on those twice-a-day practices and
more than 50 games to prepare for. "And I've learned more in six months
coaching than six years of college."
Aside from finding no spare time for himself, Cronin says he is coping
with some personal problems that have forced him to take a closer look
inside.
"Honestly, right now I feel I'm in a tunnel and kind of shoveling my
way through it," Cronin said.
Cronin began his coaching career at Colby where, from 1987-88, he
served as an assistant coach.
After spending time as a graduate assistant at UMaine from 1988-90, he
moved out west and played an instrumental role in turning the
now-powerhouse Colorado College program into a contender.
Cronin returned to his Maine roots in 1993 when he coached under Walsh
and Grant Standbrook. His primary responsibilities included on-ice
coaching and headlining a strength and conditioning program.
He wasn't without his moment in the limelight, though, as he served as
a head coach at CC and UMaine -- both times spent in a veil of darkness
under the scrutiny of NCAA-troubled years.
Both instances were also under the murky label "interim," which Cronin
said was something he never felt comfortable with.
"Egotistically speaking, an interim is a lame-duck title," he said.
"And it's a burden and it doesn't have much significance. To say it
didn't bother me would be wrong."
But it did provide an opportunity for him, something he took full
advantage of.
"Absence breeds opportunity," Cronin said on the suspension of Walsh
that led to his one-year stint as head coach at UMaine. "And it was a
wonderful opportunity. We got sucker-punched with the situation with
the NCAA, though."
"He was put in a tough position," said Black Bear captain Brian White,
who played under Cronin. "He took over in turmoil, and no one gave him
a lot of credit."
Cronin is thriving with Team USA this year, having coached his Red Team
-- and Maine recruit Doug Janik -- to an impressive 31-14-5 record.
"My team has gotten so much better," Cronin said. "Our players really
took the turn after September, really turned it on in December."
As for the future, Cronin says he would love to make a return trip to
college coaching, but it would have to be something he could call his
own.
"I don't know if I could ever be an assistant coach again," he said.