Report: Wisconsin to name Red Wings' Tony Granato next head coach
Tony Granato's going back to school.
The former NHLer and current Detroit Red Wings assistant coach will be named the next head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, according to various reports. Contract details are being worked out, according to ESPN's John Buccigross, and an announcement could come Wednesday.
Granato's contract will be approved by the university's Board of Regents during a teleconference Tuesday, writes the Wisconsin State Journal's Dennis Punzel.
After playing four seasons of college hockey at Wisconsin, and accumulating 492 points in 773 career NHL games, Granato's pro career spanned 13 years. He will be the fifth head coach in modern Badgers history, and take over for Mike Reaves.
Granato will have his work cut out for him. The Badgers went 8-19-8 this season, after winning only four games in 2014-15.
"We're very aware of the fact Tony and Wisconsin are talking," Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said, according to WKOW.com's Lance Veeser. "There's nothing official at this point. Until something becomes official, we'll have no comment on it.
"Tony is committed to being a Red Wings assistant coach throughout the rest of the regular season and in to the playoffs as long as we play."