Danton Cole

Last updated
Danton Cole
Born (1967-01-10) January 10, 1967 (age 57)
Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Winnipeg Jets
Tampa Bay Lightning
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
Chicago Blackhawks
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL Draft 123rd overall, 1985
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 19892000
Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma mater Michigan State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1999–2001 Grand Rapids Griffins (assistant)
2001–2002 Muskegon Fury
2002–2005Grand Rapids Griffins
2004–2006 Motor City Mechanics
2006–2007 Bowling Green (assistant)
2007–2010 Alabama-Huntsville
2010–2017 US NTDP
2017–2022 Michigan State
Head coaching record
Overall81–160–24 (.351)
Tournaments0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2010 CHA tournament champion

Danton Edward Cole (born January 10, 1967) is an American former professional hockey player and the former head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team. He had guided the USA Hockey Under-18 team to a pair of gold medals and a bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships during his seven seasons at the helm from 2010 to 2017. As a player, he spent seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.

Contents

Playing career

Cole was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 6th round, 123rd overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He then went to Michigan State University where he played for 4 years, scoring 62 points in 47 games his senior year there. Cole then reported to the Moncton Hawks of the AHL for the 1989–1990 season, playing in 80 games. That year he also made his NHL debut with the Jets, scoring 2 points in 2 games. The next year he earned a full-time spot with the Jets and played there for another 2 years.

Prior to the 1992–1993 season Cole was traded to the newly formed Tampa Bay Lightning and became part of the original Lightning roster. While with the Lightning Cole enjoyed his best season in the NHL, when he scored 43 points in 81 games during the 1993–1994 season. The 1994–1995 season saw Cole play the majority of the season with the Lightning before being traded to the New Jersey Devils. That year the Devils won the Stanley Cup and Cole had his name engraved on the Cup.

Following the Stanley Cup win Cole played the majority of the 1995–1996 season in the IHL. He also played with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks but saw only 12 games the whole season. This would be the last time Cole played in the NHL. He then split a year playing in Germany and the Grand Rapids Griffins, followed by two full years with the Griffins. Cole then played 2 games with the Griffins during the 1999–2000 season before officially announcing his retirement.

Coaching career

Immediately after retiring, Cole joined the Griffins as an assistant coach. He stayed there until the 2001–2002 season when he coached the Muskegon Fury of the UHL for one season, leading them to a championship win. He then joined the Griffins again, this time as head coach, and coached there until he was replaced midseason during the 2004–2005 season. Cole was assistant coach at Bowling Green State University during 2005 to 2007. Cole was the head coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville starting with the 2007–2008 season. As head coach of the UAH Hockey team, in the 2009–2010 season, Cole brought UAH to its second ever appearance into the NCAA tournament by winning the CHA conference tournament in over time 3–2. Following the 2009–10 season, Cole resigned as UAH's head coach to accept a coaching position with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. [1]

On April 11, 2017, he was appointed head coach at his alma mater, Michigan State. [2] On April 12, 2022, he was fired by Michigan State. During five seasons as head coach, he led the Spartans to a 58–101–12 record. [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1983–84Fraser Flags GLJHL
1984–85 Aurora Tigers OJHL 4151449591
1985–86 Michigan State University CCHA 4311102122
1986–87 Michigan State UniversityCCHA449152416
1987–88 Michigan State UniversityCCHA4620365638
1988–89 Michigan State UniversityCCHA4729336246
1989–90 Moncton Hawks AHL 8031427318
1989–90 Winnipeg Jets NHL 21120
1990–91 Moncton HawksAHL31120
1990–91 Winnipeg JetsNHL6613112424
1991–92 Winnipeg JetsNHL52751232
1992–93 Atlanta Knights IHL 11012
1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL6712152723
1993–94 Tampa Bay LightningNHL8120234332
1994–95 Tampa Bay LightningNHL263366
1994–95 New Jersey Devils NHL12123810000
1995–96 Utah Grizzlies IHL3428154322
1995–96 Indianapolis Ice IHL32912212051568
1995–96 New York Islanders NHL101010
1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks NHL20000
1996–97 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 287121914
1996–97 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL35818262453142
1997–98 Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL8113132636
1998–99 Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL7214112550
1999–00 Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL20000
IHL totals257736914215413571210
NHL totals318586011812510000

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1990 United States WC 102136
1991 United StatesWC10641014
1994 United StatesWC51122
Senior totals25961522

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (CHA)(2007–2010)
2007–08 Alabama-Huntsville 6–21–43–13–45th CHA Quarterfinal
2008–09 Alabama-Huntsville 5–20–53–11–44th CHA consolation game (Tie)
2009–10 Alabama-Huntsville 12–18–36–10–2t-3rd NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals
Alabama-Huntsville:23–59–1212–34–10
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten)(2017–2022)
2017–18 Michigan State 12–22–26–16–27th Big Ten Quarterfinals
2018–19 Michigan State 12–19–58–12–4–27th Big Ten Quarterfinals
2019–20 Michigan State 15–19–211–11–2–06th Big Ten Quarterfinals
2020–21 Michigan State 7–18–25–16–17th Big Ten Quarterfinals
2021–22 Michigan State 12–23–16–18–17th Big Ten Quarterfinals
Michigan State:58–101–12
Total:81–160–24

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[4]

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References

  1. Benson, Reggie (June 21, 2010). "UAH's Cole accepts new job with USA hockey program". The Huntsville Times.
  2. ""Danton Cole Named Michigan State Hockey Head Coach," Michigan State University Athletics, Tuesday, April 11, 2017". Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. Paul, Tony (April 12, 2022). "NCAA drought at 10 years, Michigan State fires hockey coach Danton Cole". The Detroit News . Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. "Alabama-Huntsville Chargers Hockey Year-by-Year". Alabama-Huntsville Chargers. Archived from the original on 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2014-08-06.