BOSTON — Joe Sacco has been a part of the Boston Bruins teaching employees for the previous 10 years.
He was promoted to interim head coach after the franchise parted methods with Jim Montgomery on Tuesday after an 8-9-2 begin to the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
The choice left Sacco with combined feelings.
“It’s been a tricky 24 hours for myself and the employees,” Sacco instructed reporters following his first follow at Warrior Ice Area on Wednesday. “We clearly misplaced an actual good coach, Jim, and even a greater particular person. I’ve established a robust relationship, a robust bond with Jimmy during the last two and a half years.
“He actually has made me a greater coach over that point. And I simply wish to guarantee that I want him all one of the best. He’ll land on his ft. He’s too good of a coach. And I wish to want his household one of the best as effectively. So it’s been a tricky 24 hours, however it’s time for us as a employees and as a gaggle now to guarantee that we transfer ahead right here.”
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Sacco believes the transition from affiliate to go coach gained’t be as troublesome given the period of time he’s spent with the gamers during the last decade.
“You simply must be your self on the finish of the day,” Sacco mentioned. “I’ve been with this group for 10 years now, and I’ve been with among the gamers that lengthy, perhaps a little bit bit much less, however they know who I’m. They understand how I act across the locker room and one-on-one individually. I’m not going to vary who I’m. I feel that I’m easy. I’m easy.
“I attempt to not sugarcoat quite a lot of issues, however I’ve additionally had the expertise and the pleasure of working with some actually good coaches previously, not simply Jim, however I labored with Claude Julian, and I used to be in a position to work with Bruce Cassidy. All people has completely different personalities and alternative ways to encourage their workforce and people. And you are taking the nice that you just wish to take from sure people. However on the finish of the day, should you’re not your self, it doesn’t work. And I’m simply going to attempt to try this.”
Sacco coached the Colorado Avalanche for 3 and a half seasons from 2009-13 with an general document of 130-134-34. He plans to take one particular facet of his teaching model from them to the Bruins now.
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“The most important factor for me is personalizing your relationships with gamers. That’s the most important factor,” he defined. “I used to be a younger coach on the time. … And I felt I didn’t do a adequate job growing relationships with the people. I used to be extra targeted on, you already know, the construction of the workforce and the methods we have been enjoying. On the finish of the day, that’s all necessary, and all of it issues, however what actually issues is your relationship together with your gamers, and that’s one thing that I feel I discovered from the primary ground.”
He plans to carry that to the ice as he and the remainder of the teaching employees work to carry out one of the best within the gamers who’re underperforming.
“Effectively, I feel it’s like I mentioned earlier than. I’m going to return to it once more. I would like to begin getting relationships with these guys. Get extra private with them. Discover out what makes them go,” he mentioned. “If it’s one thing that’s completely different from participant A to participant B, I have to know that. Definitely, there’s quite a lot of guys which are underperforming proper now. And as a employees, we’re going to drag it out of them. I’m assured we’re. Nevertheless it’s going to take some work. It’s not going to occur in a single day. However we really feel like we’ve a adequate workforce. Now we have adequate character in that room. We’re going to get it out of them.”
