Commitment to Excellence: Head Coach Gary Astalos Leads By Example
In the locker room of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, there is a slogan painted on the wall that says “Greatness is a daily choice”, a favorite quote of head Coach Jeff Blashill.
In the MD1 locker room here at Adrian College, there’s a similar quote on the wall. Thanks to rookie head coach Gary Astalos the words “COMMIT TO EXCELLENCE” are painted on the way out the door above the stick rack. This is far more than just a slogan on a wall or a hashtag on social media, it has become a life principal in which Coach Astalos not only expects from his players but also exemplifies in his own personal character.
This year’s team is having a historic run. With an impressive 27-1 record, a 19 game win streak and an unblemished home record, Astalos and the MD1 team are set to finish the regular season with their best record in program history. That success can be greatly contributed to rookie bench boss Gary Astalos.
Hailing from Southgate, Michigan, Astalos earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Eastern Michigan University, captaining their ACHA Men’s D1 team for one season. He represented Eastern Michigan at the ACHA D1 All Stars game in 2012 and was invited to the USA Hockey Evaluation Camp.
He then went on to become the Head Coach and Assistant General Manager of the Powassan Eagles of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. The next season, he would coach the Seguin Huskies, also of the GMHL. Astalos would earn the GMHL Coach of the Year honors in the 2013-14 season as a part of the Seguin Huskies organization. He would then become the head coach of the brand new Kingsville Kings in the 2015-16 season where he would also serve as the director of hockey operations. He would lead the Kings to a remarkable 39-3 record and the team would win their division by a whopping ten points and go all the way to the league final. Astalos was named a coach in two different GMHL All Star games and led the Seguin Huskies to the league final the year prior to coaching the Kings. Astalos also scouted for the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes and the Czech Republic Second Liga Team HC Beroun as a pro North American scout. He also was the founder of the Michigan Pre-Draft Showcase, a showcase that has partnered with Harrow Sports that is held in Canton, Michigan that is in its fifth year that this year will feature players born in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.
This past summer, Athletic Director Mike Duffy announced that Astalos would be the fourth head coach in the ACHA D1 program’s history.
"Gary has a solid background in developing hockey players and has experience not only within the ACHA but also our conference," said Duffy in the school’s press release, "We are happy that he has accepted this new appointment and look forward to seeing him make an impact with our ACHA D-1 program."
Astalos began the season back in September with a rigorous training camp that including off ice testing, on ice sessions and inter-squad scrimmages before narrowing down the roster to 30 players, but his work advocating and promoting the program didn’t begin there. Over the summer, he made a Facebook page for the team (you can find it here for updates on the team) and created his own slogan for the team, commit to excellence, painted on the wall in the locker room and hashtagged to posts on Facebook along with the slogan. A slogan that he uses to lead by example.
“I am really looking forward to the upcoming season. It was extremely refreshing to get back on the ice today to start camp,” said Astalos in my season preview article earlier this year, “We have an excellent group of hardworking young men and I expect us to compete on a national level. I am looking forward to the journey ahead here at Adrian College.”
And compete they have.
Beginning the season at the #10 spot in the weekly rankings, the MD1 squad has posted an astonishing 25-1 record, only dropping a single game by a single goal. Now sitting rightfully at the #3 spot in the country, the MD1 team has outscored their opponents 147-40, averaging nearly 6 goals per game and only allowing an average of 1.6 goals per game, thanks to Coach Astalos and his commitment to excellence.
Not only does Astalos coach the MD1 team, but he is also pursuing his masters degree in Sports Administration Leadership here at Adrian College, balancing school and hockey just like his players are and truly practices what he preaches.
“Gary is dedicated and hard-working,” says junior forward Justin Fisher, “[It] makes it very easy to believe and trust his system.”
“I think Adrian has always had one of the most talented teams in the country, but it takes a coach like Gary to finally make the talent buy in and work hard every day whether it be in practice or a game,” says sophomore defenseman Marc Peters, “This is something that has been hugely successful for this team so far and hopefully continues to be.”
“I think Coach has created a great atmosphere of hard work around the program,” says senior goaltender Matt Schnoes, “Everybody is really pushing themselves and I think you can see it in games.”
"I believe Gary has brought a positive atmosphere to the D1 program. He's brought a lot of structure and a winning attitude," said junior forward Brad Kobryn, "Having him here this year has been a huge change from years past. Yes it's been a harder year but we're hoping for a national championship and with his help, it's looking like it will pay off."
And finally, the most eloquent quote I received, from freshman defenseman Marcel Kottek who hails from the Czech Republic and played for Astalos last season with the Kingsville Kings:
"Don't yell at Kottek."