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Good morning, folks.
The Winnipeg Jets hired Dave Lowry as an assistant coach on Monday. Yes, Adam’s father.
When I first heard the news, it reminded me of some work road trips I used to take with my dad.
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My second thought was: I’m not sure I’d have ever wanted to work for my dad.
But, maybe that’s just me. I tended to roll my eyes at anything he said until I grew up. Like, in my 50s.
I then got to wondering if this was an unprecendented move in sports.
I used the Google to find a few previous instances of fathers coaching their sons.
From what I could find, the only other time it’s occured in the NHL was when the late Bill Dineen had his son Kevin on the team when he coached the Philadelphia Flyers in the early ’90s.
In baseball, six-time all-star Moises Alou played for his father Felipe twice — the 1992-96 seasons with the Expos in Montreal, and then rejoining him in San Francisco in 2005 and 2006.
And in January of 2015, Austin Rivers became the first player in NBA history to play for his dad when he joined the Doc Rivers-coached Los Angeles Clippers.
I could not find one instance of it ever occuring in the NFL. Father-son coaching duos being more common there — the Shanahans (Mike and Kyle); the Phillips (Bum and Wade); the Moras (Jim and Jim Jr); the Nolans (Dick and Mike); the Ryans (Buddy and Rex) and the Shulas (Don and Dave).
On a few occasions, fathers and sons have actually played together: Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. with the Mariners; Tim Raines and Raines Jr. during the final week of the 2001 season with the Orioles; and of course Gordie Howe spent several seasons playing alongside sons Mark and Marty — first with the Houston Aeros of the WHA, and then with the Hartford Whalers of the NHL.
Canada’s head coach Dave Lowry during practice at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland, on Wednesday, December 30, 2015. The Winnipeg Jets have hired Lowry as an assistant coach. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
There were some cries of cronyism and nepotism about the hire on Monday. I’m not buying that. Dave Lowry is an uber-qualified coach, was a player of outstanding character, and deserves another shot at coaching in the NHL. I’m just not sure the players — one in particular — need the noise that goes with the decision that the shot is with the Jets.
By all previous accounts, Adam Lowry seemingly has a great relationship with his father, calling him “a great role model.” And apparently he signed off on the team hiring his dad, so I’m sure all will be fine.
But, I can’t help but wonder — maybe there’s a reason it’s only the second time it’s been done.
You’d think if it was such a good idea, it would have happened more regularly.
Maybe I’m just projecting.
What do you think?
As always folks, you can reach me by replying to this mailing or by sending me an email here.
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