After spending one season at the helm, Jonathon Sheridan announced Monday that he would not return as Ohio’s coach next year.
Instead, he’s leaving the program to fill an assistant role at Lawrence University, an NCAA Division III school that also happens to be his alma mater. Sheridan played under Lawrence’s head coach Mike Szkodzinski just two seasons ago.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave (Ohio), but I think it’s nice to be going back to a place familiar to me,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan was offered the position weeks ago but did not commit until early last week after talking to mentors and others close to him to gather opinions on what would be best for his career.
Although it was a tough decision, Sheridan thinks he made the correct choice in large part because of the opportunity to coach at a more competitive level.
“I eventually want to go to the NCAA and coach there,” he said. “I’m going to need (this) experience to jump to the head coaching level. … When the opportunity came, it was something I felt I had to take.”
Sheridan’s departure also means that the Bobcats must adjust to a new head coach once again next season. Sheridan was an assistant under former coach Dan Morris in 2012-13 before being promoted to head coach when Morris stepped down last summer.
Sophomore forward Michael Harris admitted the news of Sheridan’s departure did not surprise him. However, he thinks the team will move forward and adjust, as it has bright young talent and had a taste of adapting to change last year.
“(Sheridan) is a great guy, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” Harris said. “He has worked very hard to get where he is; to get a job at his alma mater, I wish him the best of luck.”
During Sheridan’s two seasons on the Ohio bench, the Bobcats posted a 59-16-6 overall record. The Bobcats finished second in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Championship this year and Sheridan was named the CSCHL coach of the year.
“I made so many good friends and met so many good people,” Sheridan said. “They are a great group of guys and great people. They’re going to do well next year, and it’s up to them. Whoever replaces me is going to have a better team than what we had this year.”
Ohio will soon begin its hunt for a new coach, but because there is expected to be a significant number of potential candidates, a final decision is not expected until later this spring.
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