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RoughRiders Carlson a 'strong candidate' for UMass head hockey job
Jeff Johnson
Jul. 10, 2012 1:09 am, Updated: Apr. 11, 2023 12:06 pm
Several reports from the East Coast on Monday night indicated Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach/general manager/owner Mark Carlson is a "strong" candidate to become the new head hockey coach at the University of Massachusetts.
UMass has been searching for a coach to replace "Toot" Cahoon, who left the program recently. Several possible replacements have emerged but most have bowed out of the running after interviews
Carlson said Monday in a text message that he is a candidate at UMass and has interviewed but has not officially been offered the job. He has been the RoughRiders' lone head coach/general manager since the franchise relocated to Cedar Rapids from Mason City for the 1999-2000 season.
He has led the Riders to the United States Hockey League playoffs 12 straight seasons, including a Clark Cup championship in 2004-05. The club won the Anderson Cup for most regular-season points in 2010-11.
Carlson has interviewed previously for head college coaching positions, including Massachusetts-Lowell, his alma mater, two years ago. He is reportedly one of two finalists for the UMass job.