Jonathon Sheridan announced Monday morning that he will not return as Ohio hockey's head coach next season.
Sheridan instead took an assistant coaching job at Lawrence University, his alma mater. The move will not only give him an opportunity to coach at the NCAA Division III level, but it will also provide him the chance to be involved with the same program in which he played hockey at the collegiate level.
Sophomore forward Michael Harris admitted that the news of Sheridan's decision did not come as a shock.
"To be honest, I wasn't surprised," Harris said. "Sheri's a pretty young guy... and he used OU as a stepping stone to start his career. So I'm happy for him."
Sheridan's departure also means that Ohio will be forced to adjust to a new head coach for the third time in three years. He was an assistant under Dan Morris last season before being promoted to the head coaching position during the summer of 2013, after Morris stepped down.
Because Sheridan was already part of the coaching staff prior to this season, Harris said the adjustment was not a huge factor. However, he also mentioned that the situation may not be the same when the Bobcats return for 2014-15, as Sheridan's successor could have no prior connection to the team.
In any case, Harris has nothing but well wishes for his former coach.
"Sheri 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, and he deserves it."
The Bobcats posted an impressive 59-16-6 overall record over Sheridan's two seasons on Ohio's coaching staff, including 30 wins in 2013-14. It also featured two Central States Collegiate Hockey League championship appearances (including the CSCHL tournament win in 2012-13), and consecutive American College Hockey Association national tournament berths.
In addition, Sheridan was named the CSCHL Coach of the Year this past season.
Lawrence University contacted Sheridan about the offer following Ohio's round two loss to Iowa State in the ACHA national tournament. He reached out to Morris and several others before taking his new job.
Ohio will soon begin its hunt for a new coach, but a final decision on Sheridan's successor is not expected until later this spring.
