Iowa Wild Add Assistant and Video Coaches to Coaching Staff

The official logo of the AHL’s Iowa Wild.

The Iowa Wild aren’t kidding about their commitment to a quality product in Des Moines. After hiring former Calder Cup champion head coach Kurt Kleinendorst, Iowa Wild GM Jim Mill as added two more quality coaches to his staff in new assistant coach Steve Poapst and video coach Tim Flynn.

Per the team’s website:

Iowa Wild General Manager Jim Mill announced on Tuesday that Steve Poapst (Pop-st) has been named Assistant Coach. Mill also announced Tim Flynn as Video Coach.“Steve has proven success of developing prospects in the AHL,” said Iowa Wild General Manager Jim Mill. “He played professionally for 15 years, including over 300 games in the National Hockey League. We believe he will be a major asset to our young defensemen in Iowa”.Prior to joining Iowa, the 44-year old spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Rockford IceHogs. During his tenure in Rockford, Poapst oversaw the team’s defensemen and was instrumental in the development of Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects Adam Clendening, Dylan Olsen, Ryan Stanton and Klas Dahlbeck.Before jumping to the AHL ranks with Rockford, Poapst served as general manager and head coach of the Chicago Steel (USHL). The Cornwall, Ontario native spent nearly four years with the Steel before joining the Blackhawks organization. Poapst was named the USHL’s Coach of The Year in 2008 after guiding the club to a 20-win improvement from the previous campaign.The former NHL defenseman played 220 games with Chicago from 2000-2004, including a career-high 75 games in 2002-03 season. He made his NHL debut with Washington in 1995-96, playing in three games for the Capitals. Overall, Poapst spent most of his first seven seasons of professional hockey playing in the minor leagues before getting extended time with the Capitals in 1998-99.In all, Poapst totaled 307 NHL games, notching eight goals and 28 assists from the blueline. He played in the AHL from 1992-2001, totaling 45 goals and 160 assists for 205 points in 498 games. His AHL career included stops in Baltimore, Portland and Norfolk.Prior to turning to the pro game, Poapst spent four years at Colgate University skating with the Raiders.Tim Flynn joins the Wild after spending the last three years at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he served as the Director of Hockey Operations for the 2012-13 season. In his first two seasons, Flynn served as a Volunteer Assistant.He was mainly responsible for video analysis, pre-scouting opponents, in-game and postgame analysis. In addition to working closely with the players and coaching staff with regards to game preparation, Flynn also assisted with fundraisers and community events related to the UAH hockey program.Additionally, Flynn has worked at the USA Hockey select camps in Rochester, New York. He was also an instructor for Total Package Hockey in Huntsville. A native of Westwood, Mass., Flynn earned his MBA from UAH.