The Indy Fuel announced Friday that Doug Christiansen would be the third head coach in the history of the club.
“We are very excited to have Doug join the Fuel organization,” team owner Jim Hallett said in a press release. “We were overwhelmed by the number of applicants during our extensive search for the next head coach. The top qualities we looked at were leadership, experience and the ability to recruit top talent. With Doug’s experience both as a winning coach in Manchester and his ability to build relationships with players while serving as Director of Recruitment for the USHL, we are confident he will build a victorious tradition in Indy and serve as a pillar in the community.”
Christiansen was the head coach of the now defunct Manchester Monarchs last season, going 39-29-4 and making it to the second round of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Monarchs were eliminated by the eventual Kelly Cup Champion Newfoundland Growlers in six games. Fuel fans will recall that key scorer Kevin Dufour was traded to Manchester in the latter half of last season. It will be interesting to see if Christiansen lures Dufour back to Indy.
“I am thrilled to join the Indy Fuel and Chicago Blackhawks organization,” Christiansen said in a press release. “The Fuel have a tremendous foundation from which to grow. Jim Hallett and the front office are committed to bringing a winner to Indy and I am thankful for the opportunity to coach the Fuel. I am looking forward to building a winning culture that will bring exciting hockey to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.”
Prior to joining Manchester, Christiansen coached for four years in the U.K. with the EIHL. While there, he was a two-time EIHL Coach of the Year, won a league championship in 2012 with the Belfast Giants, and won a conference championship with the Giants the following year.
Season-ending rosters are due to the ECHL league office on June 15 at 3 pm ET. The opening day of the ECHL free agency period is June 16, which is when Christiansen will begin his tenure.