Breaking: Jean-Francois Houle named next Clarkson coach

Laval Rocket head coach Jean-Francois Houle, a Clarkson alum, will become the next head coach at Clarkson. Houle will replace Casey Jones, who resigned last week to become the head coach in waiting at Cornell.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to return and coach at my Alma Mater. I am excited about the future of Clarkson Hockey and eager to continue the rich history of the program."  said Houle.  "I am looking forward to becoming a mentor and instilling the Clarkson University Values to the next generation of student-athletes. My family and I have forged some deep friendships within the community and we are happy to make Potsdam home again."

Houle had been mentioned as a candidate, but he felt like a longshot only because he just signed a three-year extension to continue as the head coach of Montreal’s AHL affiliate. Given his success in developing players for Montreal, he’s been mentioned as a possible successor to Martin St. Louis at some point or as a future NHL head coach somewhere else.

Houle taking the job says a lot about his desire to lead his alma mater. He’s not an assistant coach in search of a head coaching opportunity. He has a head coaching job with an NHL affiliate. If he’s moving to Clarkson, it’s because he wants that job, and he wants it badly. This isn’t a move he has to make for his resume. It would be a move he wants to make.

“He’s a player’s coach,” said Laval defenseman Tobie Paquette-Bisson. “I think it’s always been what people say: he’s there for the players, easy to talk to, everyone loves him.

“You’ll never hear a player that doesn’t like him. I think he’s a really good fit with the Rocket.”