Danton Cole - Head Coach UAH Chargers NCAA Div I
A winner of the Stanley Cup and NCAA Championship as a player, Danton Cole was named the third coach in the history of the University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey program in April 2007.
A Pontiac, Mich., native, Cole joined the Chargers after a brief stint at Bowling Green State University in 2006-07. During his brief tenure, Cole directed five of the Falcons six regular defensemen to new career bests in points.
Prior to his stint in Bowling Green, Cole posted a career head coaching record of 222-126-27 in minor league professional hockey. Spending three seasons (2002-04) as the skipper of the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), the top farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, he quickly became the all-time winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 116-72-17. Following his stay with the Griffins, he spent two seasons with the Motor City Mechanics (UHL), where he coached former Charger standout Jared Ross. Cole led the Mechanics to a 58-32-6 mark during his tenure.
2001-02 saw Cole get his first shot as a head coach taking over the Muskegon Fury (UHL) where he led the team to a 48-22 mark and a league championship.
Despite being a sixth round selection by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 entry draft, Cole suited up for Michigan State University for four seasons where he still holds the career record with 180 games played during his span. Advancing to the Frozen Four three out of four years including winning a national title as a Spartan, Cole notched 163 points (69g, 94a) and was honored with the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1989 as MSU's top male student-athlete in both scholarship and achievement.
Following his four years with the Spartans, Cole spent six seasons in the NHL joining on with the Winnipeg Jets before moving on to the then expansion Tampa Bay Lightning. A late season trade brought him to the New Jersey Devils where he helped Jacques Lemaire's squad to the Stanley Cup championship. Short stays with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks rounded out Cole's NHL playing career.
Married to the former Debbie Fox of Lansing, Mich., he and his wife have three daughters (Ashton 13, Madeleine 12 and Payton 8).