GREEN BAY – Former Green Bay Gamblers head coach Don Granato was named interim head coach of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres March 17.
He was an assistant coach with the Sabres before the promotion.
Granato joins Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay) as head coaches in the NHL with ties to the Gamblers.
He was the first head coach in Gamblers’ team history.
In three years (1994-97) behind the bench, the former Wisconsin Badgers standout won two National Championships, two Anderson Cups and a Clark Cup.
After leaving Green Bay, Granato made coaching stops in the ECHL, AHL, NHL, USHL and collegiate ranks.
His NHL experience includes time with the St. Louis Blues (2005-06) and Chicago Blackhawks (2017-19), serving as an assistant coach with both clubs.
Granato made his NHL head coaching debut March 18, as the Sabres lost a 4-1 game to the Boston Bruins.