Everblades O’Had hired by Kansas City Mavericks

Everblades O’Had hired by Kansas City Mavericks

Associate Head Coach leaves Florida after seven seasons 

ESTERO, FL – Florida Everblades General Manager Craig Brush, along with Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph, announced Wednesday that Associate Head Coach Tad O’Had has been named the Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations for the Kansas City Mavericks.

“I was thrilled to hear that Tad was selected to become the Head Coach in Kansas City,” Brush said. “His experience with Greg Poss and Brad Ralph positions him uniquely to succeed in his new role. Kansas City is getting a hardworking, dedicated coach that will take their program to high levels.”

O’Hadjoins the Mavericks after spending seven seasons with the Everblades, serving as the team’s Associate Head Coach since July of 2016. O’Had played a large role in the team’s defense, position-specific skills, recruiting, penalty kill and strength & conditioning efforts. He served as an assistant coach in his first three seasons with the organization.

“I am really happy for Tad; he’s earned this opportunity through his hard work and dedication to the Florida Everblades organization,” Ralph said. “I appreciate all Tad has contributed to our program over the last 4 years; We’ve accumulated an impressive record together and Tad will be missed.”

O’Had previously served as head coach and general manager of the Florida Jr. Blades, operating in that role for three seasons. The Jr. Blades consistently dominated under O’Had’s direction, making two appearances at USA Hockey Nationals while capturing a pair of regular season league titles and the USPHL National Championship in 2017. He guided the Jr. Blades to an eye-opening 112-19-8 record in his tenure.

O’Had, a Yakima, Washington native, involved himself in hockey at a young age and played in the Tri-Cities, where he found himself drawn to the defensive side of the sport. He went on to play hockey for Millbrook Prep School in Upstate New York for three years. After graduating from Millbrook, O’Had continued on to play junior hockey in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and Ontario Provincial Hockey League with the Capital Centre Pride and the Port Huron Clippers, respectively.

The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators