Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Ex-Checker, Ice coach Marks takes on the Force

Another former Indianapolis Ice coach is headed behind the bench this summer, as John Marks was named the Fargo Force's head coach today.

Marks played for the Checkers in 1981-82, suiting up in 51 games in what would be his final full season. He split the year with the Chicago Blackhawks, a team for which he would play 657 NHL games. Marks had six goals and 20 assists as a Checker, playing for a team that would eventually win its first of back-to-back CHL championships.

Marks began coaching at the University of North Dakota the next season, assisted a Frozen Four team in 1984, and has been behind the bench virtually ever since. He became the Ice's head coach in 1991, and had a 59-75-14 record in a season and 66 games of the 1992-93 year. He went to the ECHL the following year, and has coached in the minor pro ranks every year since. He won ECHL titles with Charlotte in 1996, Greenville in 2002, and the SPHL title with Fayetteville in 2007. He was also SPHL Coach of the Year in 2007. His last pro assignment was a year with the IHL's Dayton Gems in 2009-10. He most recently coached the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League.

Marks replaces Jason Herter, who took a position at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Former Indianapolis Ice player Byron Pool was the Force's interim coach over the summer.

USHL.com story

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