Adrian, MI – The beginning of the 2024-25 D3 NCAA Ice Hockey season at Adrian College will have a new Head Coach. It was announced today that Adam Krug (’12), will be leaving the program to coach in the professional ranks. Krug has served as head coach for the last ten seasons where he held a career coaching record of 229-52-14.
“I’d like to thank President Jeffrey Docking, Vice President Frank Hribar, Vice President Jim Mahony, Athletic Director Craig Rainey and the rest of the administration for their support when it comes to my career and Bulldog Hockey,” Krug said. “This has not been an easy decision, to leave Adrian College, as it’s a special place to my family. It’s where I met my wife, Lindsay, and where we’ve raised our three children for the past ten years.”
Krug has recently accepted a position as an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. The Bakersfield Condors finished the 2023-24 season with a 39-27-4-2 record to make the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers won the Western Conference last season in the NHL before falling in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers.
“I would like to thank coach Krug for all the hard work and effort he has put into Adrian College and our NCAA men’s hockey program,” said Adrian College Athletic Director, Craig Rainey. “It is a bittersweet day at Adrian College as we see one of our best coaches step away for an opportunity in professional hockey. His legacy at Adrian will live here forever. We are happy for coach Krug and his family and wish them the best as they continue their hockey journey. We know there are many more outstanding achievements ahead for him.”
During his career at Adrian, Krug held a winning percentage of .800 which is the highest winning percentage among active head coaches in all divisions of NCAA hockey. He holds the greatest number of wins as a head coach in program history and has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four, five times. Krug is a nine-time NCHA Peters Cup Champion and a five-time NCHA Harris Cup Champion. Krug was at the helm of the Bulldogs when the team won the first NCAA National Championship in school history in 2022. While coaching at Adrian, 31 of Krug’s players went on to sign professional contracts.
“Telling the players on Tuesday evening was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” Krug said. “Outside of my family, those guys are my life. I love them. I’m proud of them. This year’s team is set up to make another run and hopefully add another NCAA trophy to the trophy case inside the Arrington Ice Arena.”
Prior to coaching, Krug was a member of the first Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey team during the 2007-08 season where he served as captain. In his two seasons as a player for the Bulldogs, Krug played in 57 total games totaling 52 goals and 77 assists for 129 total points. After college, Krug went on to begin a professional career in the ECHL among other leagues before coaching.
“I’ve always been a college hockey guy and coaching at the professional level was not really on my radar as a route for my career,” said Krug. “Over the past year or two I’ve had some great opportunities to observe at the NHL level and even interview for a couple of other jobs. These opportunities have piqued my interest and this move seems like the right fit, at the right time. I’m grateful to the Edmonton Oilers organization for their interest in my services, and our family is extremely excited to get to Bakersfield and join Colin Chaulk’s staff and get to work.”
“I wish I could call the hundreds of people that made this all possible but there are just so many,” Krug said. “So, I’m saying thank you to all of the people that we’ve crossed paths with an Adrian College over the last 18 years. The players, our alums, my assistant coaches through the years, their families, our so very passionate fans, our boosters, and everyone else associated with Adrian College and Bulldog Hockey – thank you. This is forever our home and we look forward to coming back as much as we can in the future.”
Coach Adam Krug has been a guest on Inside the Cave during hockey season since the launch of the station back in 2020. “I would like to publicly thank Coach Krug for his conversations about hockey,” said Ian Wendt, the voice of Adrian College Hockey for The Cave. “He made us a priority…whether that was on the show in person, calling in from a road trip out in Wisconsin, or sitting next to me pregame to record interviews prior to games being aired on The Cave. The way he embraced our local radio station was outstanding. He was always willing to bring The Cave on the road, days at a time, to call games so that listeners back home can get the home town broadcast. I also thank him for having his student-athletes be interviewed for the radio. Those opportunities for them enhanced their overall college experience. Adam and his family will be missed at the Arrington Ice Arena, and in the Adrian community, but they will always have a place in the hearts of those who know them. Everything he did at Adrian College over past ten-plus years was for the program, especially for those who put on the Bulldog sweater. I know he will do the same for the Edmonton Oilers organization.”
Adrian College will soon begin a search for a new head coach of the Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey program.
*Some media in the article courtesy of Adrian College*