The AHL’s Colorado Eagles have announced that head coach Greg Cronin has been named the new head coach of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

Cronin spent five seasons as the Eagles bench boss, compiling a record of 164-104-30 and leading the team to Calder Cup Playoffs appearances three times, with the AHL postseason being cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

In addition, the Arlington, Mass., native coached over a dozen players who made their NHL debut after spending time under his tutelage in Loveland.

“I am so thankful for my time with the Colorado Eagles,” said Cronin. “What an amazing organization. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the Colorado Eagles. The fan support and the leadership from Eagles owner Martin Lind are absolutely unprecedented. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in Northern Colorado and interacting with the incredible community there. I want to personally thank everyone in Eagles Country for the amazing five years that I enjoyed with you.”

Prior to the Eagles, Cronin spent four years on the New York Islanders coaching staff, serving three seasons as an assistant before being promoted to associate coach in 2017-18. It marked his second stint with the Islanders, as he previously was an assistant coach with the team from 1998-2003. Cronin was also an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons from 2011-14.

Cronin served two seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2003-05.

Following his time with Bridgeport, Cronin spent six seasons as the head coach at Northeastern University from 2005-11. He helped rebuild the Huskies program, improving from three wins in his first season to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2009, the school’s first in 15 years. That season, he won the Hockey East’s Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award.

Cronin was an assistant coach at the University of Maine (1988-90, 1993-95) and Colorado College (1990-93), and also spent time as interim head coach at both institutions (Colorado College in 1992 and Maine in 1995-96).

Following a four-year playing career at Colby College (1982-86), Cronin began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1987-88.

One of the co-founders of the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., Cronin served as the head coach and director of player development for the U.S. Under-18 Team for two years from 1996-98. Internationally, Cronin worked as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1997, 2011 and 2012 IIHF World Championship, as well as the 1997 and 1998 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped the U.S. Junior National Team to a silver medal in 1997.

Cronin earned a master’s degree in business from Maine in 1990 while serving as a graduate assistant for the hockey team.

Photo/Ashley Potts

(June 8, 2023)