Don Granato, with 15 seasons of coaching experience at multiple levels and four years as a player at Wisconsin, has been named a head coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Granato, as one of two head coaches at the NTDP, will guide the U.S. National Under-17 Team during the 2011-12 season. He replaces Ron Rolston, who spent seven seasons at the NTDP, and left the program this offseason for the head coaching job with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
“Don will be a terrific mentor to the best young players in our country,” said USA Hockey assistant executive director of hockey operations Jim Johannson in a press release. “He’s excited about the opportunity and we’re very pleased to have him at the NTDP.”
Granato has coached at the pro level in the National Hockey League, AHL and ECHL and at the junior level in the United States Hockey League. He spent last season as a scout for the Vancouver Canucks.
As a player, the Downers Grove, Ill., native skated for Wisconsin from 1987-1991, helping Wisconsin to the 1990 NCAA title.
