When Craig McCarthy handed over the Ohio coaching reigns to Dan Morris after the 2001, he hinted that it wasn't quite the end of a career he began perfecting at the age of 12.
But, circumstances would be a little different the next time he laced up the skates and grabbed the whistle.
"For me, it seemed like a perfect transition for a couple of reasons. One we had Coach Morris, who was more than ready to -- as person and at a place -- to take over" McCarthy said. "From a second perspective, I think the comment I made was, 'My next coaching might be with kids that come to my knees.'
"I wanted a little time away from coaching before [my wife Holly and I] started to try to have a family."
During his eight years in Bird Arena, McCarthy's success was unmatched. The London, Ontario native won three straight ACHA National Championships, four CSCHL Regular Season Championships and three league playoff championships.
In 1998, after coaching the Bobcats to their fourth straight national championship berth, he was named ACHA Coach of the Year to go along with four CSCHL Coach of the Year honors.
Morris, who's hometown of Woodstock is about 45 minutes east of London, had the unique opportunity to work with McCarthy as a player during Ohio's championship three-peat and as an assistant coach in 2001.
"It was definitely challenging [playing under McCarthy], both physically and mentally," Morris said. "But I think it was a challenge players welcomed."
When Morris took over as head coach in the 2001-2002 season, he said he realized he was filling some big skates.
"It's tough to follow a legend -- for me especially," he said. "Sometimes you don't want to be that guy. The adjustment was tough but it was nice at least having him in my corner."
After McCarthy left coaching OU to teach full-time as an assistant professor in the school's psychology department, the pair from Southern Ontario remained close -- perhaps growing closer. Morris even chose McCarthy to be the best man at his marriage.
"Our relationship changed from player-coach to friends," Morris said. "It's a tough town, there aren't a lot of hockey people in town.
"Those talks led to a great friendship to where, when I wanted a friend to stand up beside me that's honorable it was a short list with one name on it -- Craig's name."
McCarthy's return to coaching may have been "scripted" but he said he has enjoyed the chance to teach a love of the game to some of Athens' youngest players, including his sons -- Jake, 6, and Eli, 4.
"I started coaching mite hockey this year with my kids and that was a lot of fun," McCarthy. "I've pretty much scripted the last 10 years as I thought I might. My kids are interested in youth sports and I back involved at the youngest level."
Morris said that the Athens Youth Hockey Association is privileged to have someone with the experience and passion of McCarthy teaching some of the youngest players.
But some parents, Morris said, might not realize just how dedicated he is.
"Craig was getting ready to get his stopwatch and his whistle on and one of the parents kind of nonchalantly asked him why he had a stopwatch," Morris said. "He looked at him and said, 'I've got to calculate the work-to-rest ratio.'
"That's Craig. When he does decides to do something, whether it's teaching his classes or coaching, he's full-on. You never get a half-assed effort from Craig."
With his track record of success and vast experience, it's hard to fathom McCarthy coaching mites. But McCarthy said he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I don't have aspirations of coaching at a higher level. I have aspirations of coaching my kids and some of the other good kids we have in the program," McCarthy said. "I'm more likely to follow the youth groups through just really how I started 30 years ago.
"I started with the 5, 6, 7-year-olds and it's right back. I've really gone full circle with this."
-- bl245106@ohio.edu
Twitter: @bart_logan, @ThePostSports
