Mike Grier made NHL historical past as the primary Black basic supervisor within the league after the San Jose Sharks named him to the publish on Tuesday.
Grier, a former NHL participant who performed 1,060 video games over 14 seasons, changed former basic supervisor Doug Wilson after the Sharks’ three-month seek to fill the emptiness, The Mercury Information reported.
Grier mentioned all through a press convention that the brand new function “manner so much” to him.
“It’s now not one thing I take frivolously. I understand there’s a duty that includes the territory however I’m up for it,” mentioned Grier, whose taking part in profession incorporated 3 seasons with the Sharks.
“How I lift myself and the way this group carries itself, I believe we’ll do neatly, and with a bit of luck, we’ll depart a footprint and open some doorways for other folks to practice,” he added.
Grier mentioned he used to be ready for the problem, noting he used to be instructed “he used to be by no means going to play” when he joined the crew at Boston College as a walk-on.
“Put within the paintings. Don’t run from the problem,” he mentioned.
Grier’s brother, Chris Grier, has been the overall supervisor of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins since 2016.
Chris Grier mentioned he used to be satisfied for his brother, calling him a person of “prime persona and integrity,” NFL.com reported.
“He has all the time been revered off and on the ice via his friends,” the Dolphins supervisor mentioned. “Mike will deliver his paintings ethic and fervour on a daily basis to the activity. Mike understands the sport, with intelligence, enjoy and information to be triumphant as a [general manager].”
Mike Grier joins as basic supervisor after Wilson, who used to be basic supervisor for 19 seasons, stepped down for scientific causes, NHL.com reported.
The brand new basic supervisor hopes to steer the Sharks to the Stanley Cup playoffs when they’ve ignored the postseason for the previous 3 seasons.