Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 7:00 pm
Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln Stars assistant coach Ryan Bencurik resigned his position, the team announced Tuesday.
Bencurik was well-liked in the area, having played on the Stars’ first team in 1996 that won a United States Hockey League postseason championship.
He also played for Omaha and Des Moines during his USHL career, winning one regular-season and three postseason championships as a player. Bencurik later played at Nebraska-Omaha and had a brief professional career.
Bencurik was an assistant with the Stars for four seasons. Most recently he was also the recruiting coordinator and director of player personnel. He resigned on Sunday.
“I just felt like I needed to make a change and wasn’t making what I wanted to, so I’ll try something different,” Bencurik said in a phone interview late Tuesday.
Bencurik had interviewed this summer for the head coaching job after Steve Johnson resigned. But Jimmy McGroarty, after one season as a Stars assistant coach, was named head coach in early July.
“We wish Ryan the best of luck in his future endeavors,” McGroarty said in a statement. “He’s contributed a lot to our organization over the years, and we’re sincerely appreciative of his efforts.”
McGroarty said at the time of his hiring that Bencurik would be interviewed to remain as an assistant. Bencurik said he had an offer to remain with the team, with the same responsibilities.
“Resigning had been on my mind for a while, and Jimmy and I weren’t clicking like we both probably hoped we would, so I decided it was best if I just step aside,” Bencurik said.
Bencurik, 31, hopes to remain in Lincoln and use his marketing degree to find a job. He didn’t rule out a return to coaching at some level, but says now he’d like to try something different.
He said it was disappointing to not get the head coaching job, but added that McGroarty will do well. Bencurik said he wanted to be a head coach but doesn’t want to make the frequent moves as a college assistant coach likely needed to get a head coaching job.
“It was great to play here and win a championship, and I’ve made a lot of great friends through hockey,” Bencurik said. “And hopefully as a coach I helped some kids better their lives and become better people.”
Practice for the Stars begins on Sept. 16
— Brent C. Wagner