NORFOLK, Virginia — In his third ECHL season, former player and head coach Rod Taylor resigned on Monday afternoon following a 1-7 start to the 2022 campaign. Jeff Carr, the assistant coach, has been named head coach by the Admirals, effective immediately.
In a statement issued on Monday, Admirals Owner Patrick Cavanagh said, “Rod has poured his heart and soul into Admirals Hockey for decades both as a player and head coach.”
“Words cannot express how much the organization values his efforts and commitment. For his commitment to the Norfolk Admirals Professional Hockey team and the fantastic Hampton Roads community, Rod has our sincere gratitude.
Although Taylor was inducted into the Admirals Hall of Fame and became one of the team’s all-time finest players during the John Brophy coaching period, his coaching career wasn’t as successful.
In addition to his role as general manager of Norfolk, he finished 44-82-14. The Admirals failed to make the playoffs in their previous year, finishing 29-37-6 and sixth in the ECHL’s South Division.
Carr, 38, joins the Norfolk Admirals as their 13th head coach. Prior to being appointed assistant coach of Norfolk on August 11, the Wisconsin native managed the SPHL’s Knoxville Ice Bears’ bench.
With the Ice Bears winning their first regular season championship since 2009 with a 42-10-8 record, Carr was voted the 2021–22 SPHL Coach of the Year.
The 42 wins established the SPHL’s all-time regular season win total. Under Carr’s direction, the Ice Bears had a combined record of 151-83-24 (.632%) in five seasons.
