Phoenix, AZ - Central Hockey
League (CHL) Commissioner Duane Lewis announced today that Jim Wiley
has been named the CHL's Director of Hockey Operations. The veteran of
more than 25 years in professional hockey in various capacities will
join the CHL front office staff on Monday, September 8th.
Wiley
is no stranger to the CHL coaching in the league for two and a half
seasons manning the bench for the Amarillo Gorillas (2006-08) and the
Memphis RiverKings (2003-04). In 159 CHL games as a head coach, Wiley
posted a 71-74-14 record.
"We couldn't ask for a better
person to join the league office than Jim," said Lewis. "He has
experience in all the areas that are needed in this role, and will be
an excellent communicator with our member teams. We are certain that he
can step in immediately and do the job at the highest level."
Born
in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the former Lake Superior State University
standout played in 485 games in the professional ranks including 62
games in the National Hockey League (with Pittsburgh and Vancouver) and
305 games in the CHL (with Seattle and Tulsa). His best season came
with the Oilers during the 1975-76 season where he scored 33 goals with
63 assists.
His coaching career began with the Des Moines
Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) where he coached
from 1984-1990. His professional debut came with the Kansas City Blades
of the International Hockey League (IHL) in 1993. He coached two plus
seasons with the Blades recording a 77-72-16 record and led the team to
the Turner Cup Finals in 1995.
After just three games with Kansas City during the 1995-96 season, Wiley left the team and was named the Head Coach of the San Jose Sharks.
Along with his time in the CHL, he later coached in the AHL, ECHL and
UHL. He has also served in various hockey operations capacities with
the Kentucky Thoroughblades (AHL) and the Cleveland Barons (AHL).
"I
am extremely excited to be given the opportunity to work for the
Central Hockey League as its Director of Hockey Operations," said
Wiley. "In this role, I am looking to uphold and build on the strong
professional endeavors and standards set by the CHL."