Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo Signs Contract Extension
By Scott Drain
Jan 14, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo looks on during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at Xcel Energy Center. The Senators defeated the Wild 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo has signed a multi-year contract extension. The terms of the agreement were not released. Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher announced the deal Saturday afternoon. Yeo has been the Coach of the Minnesota Wild for the last three seasons. The last two years the team has reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing them the previous five seasons.
"Coach Yeo said, “I am very excited to continue to coach the Minnesota Wild and pursue a Stanley Cup for the State of Hockey. Our fan support has been amazing and it went to a new level during the playoffs this season. We are all motivated to reward them”."
Mike Yeo was named as the Minnesota Wild’s third head coach in June of 2011 after the firing of Todd Richards. Since taking over the Head Coach position he has led the team to a record of 104-82-26 over three seasons. This last season Yeo took the team to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 11 years. The Wild went 43-27-12 in the 2013-14 campaign.
General Manager Chuck Fletcher had this to say, “Mike has done a very good job the last three seasons as our Head Coach and we look forward to his leadership going forward” That was far from the case back in December when the team was in a tailspin. The team lost six consecutive games to end the month of December. That and a record of 1-8-1 from December 8th to 31st had many saying Mike Yeo’s head was on the chopping block and the ax was in the air.
That changed as the Minnesota Wild won five of 6 games to start the new year. From January 1st through the end of the regular season the Minnesota Wild went 23-11-7. The Wild would end the regular season with their second highest point total, 98, in team history.
Coach Mike Yeo’s system and demand for accountability from his players has turned the Wild around. Of course the addition of some high priced free agent talent and good trades by GM Fletcher has given Yeo something to work with. The development of younger players and prospects has the outlook positive for the Wild.
Coming up tomorrow we’ll take a closer look at Mike Yeo and his journey to his position as Head Coach of The Minnesota Wild.