Greg Cronin, the former head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Iowa Wild, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Minnesota Wild. The announcement was made Monday, marking a quick return to the coaching ranks for Cronin after being dismissed by the Ducks in April. His tenure in Anaheim lasted two seasons, during which he compiled a 62-87-15 record.
At 62 years old, Cronin brings nearly four decades of coaching experience across multiple levels of hockey. Notably, he has previously served as a head coach in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2003 to 2005 and with the Colorado Eagles from 2018 to 2023. His extensive background highlights his familiarity with the development-focused nature of the AHL.
Greg Cronin Named Iowa Wild Head Coach, Bringing Decades of Experience and Development FocusVeteran Coach Brings Proven Leadership, Development Focus to Iowa Wild Bench Role
Iowa Wild general manager Matt Hendricks expressed strong support for the hire, emphasizing Cronin’s analytical coaching style and deep hockey knowledge. Hendricks noted Cronin’s success in player development and his ability to lead competitive teams, adding that his experience and passion would be valuable assets for the Wild’s affiliate program.
In addition to his AHL and NHL coaching roles, Cronin also served as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs and was head coach at Northeastern University between 2005 and 2011. His diverse coaching résumé underlines his commitment to the sport and his ability to adapt to various levels of professional and collegiate hockey.
