The Barrie Colts are making a change behind the bench, with Marty Williamson relinquishing his head coaching duties to focus on his work as general manager.
In an announcement made by team owner and president Howie Campbell on Tuesday afternoon, Williamson will add the title of Colts’ vice-president to his job as GM, while assistant coach Dylan Smoskowitz will take over as the new head coach.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about,” Williamson said of the decision to step aside after 15 years behind the bench in the OHL with Barrie and the Niagara IceDogs. “I thought of it a lot this year. I’m 62-years-old now. Howie and I talked about maybe one more year, but then I started talking to him and there was a chance that Dylan was going to interview with a few places, and I personally didn’t want to lose Dylan.
“I think I can work with him really well. I said to Howie that this is the time to do it, and we came to an agreement. Obviously, Dylan is very excited, and I think it’s the best thing for the organization.”
The winningest coach in Colts’ history over two tenures totalling 10 years with the club, Williamson became just the seventh coach in OHL history with over 600 wins in mid-March and now has amassed 603 wins in over 1,000 games.
Williamson was one of two remaining people in the OHL, along with Mississauga’s James Richmond, to hold down both titles as coach and GM.
“I don’t think you can do both jobs to the best of your ability anymore,” said Williamson. “With this NCAA rule coming in, and everything, I think the GM’s job is a big job, and I’m excited for that challenge.
“I’m going to miss the coaching, it’s a big part of me, but I also think being a mentor to Dylan is something I look forward to. I got kind of lucky that people did those things for me. If I can help Dylan in some ways, I feel kind of privileged getting that opportunity.”
Williamson says he’ll miss the day-to-day interactions with the players.
“One hundred per cent,” he said. “I really enjoyed the players. I enjoyed the day-to-day, being in the dressing room and just listening to the banter and that kind of stuff. I’m going to miss that a lot, but I’ll still be popping in. I believe practices are really important. The preparation and work that goes into a good practice, that was always a stressful thing.
“And some of those bus trips, I’m not going to miss those either.”
For Campbell, it’s all about family.
“Over the past 20 years, I’ve always believed that we are more than just a hockey team. We’re a family,” he said. “Dylan has grown with this organization as a player and an assistant coach, and Marty has been a key part of our success since I took over the team 20 years ago.
“This move just speaks to what I have felt and (what I’m trying) to instill, we are a family. The future is bright for our team.”
Smoskowitz takes over behind the bench after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach. The Richmond Hill native played his first two OHL seasons with Barrie from 2010 to 2012.
“It’s obviously very exciting. It’s a huge opportunity,” said Smoskowitz who thanked Campbell and Williamson for their confidence in him. “To come back to the same rink and the same room that I grew up in as a player and I got to spend so many great days in as both a player and assistant coach it really does feel like home for me.
“Everyone who was part of the organization feels like family, so when I do get to stand behind the bench as head coach it’s obviously going to be a special moment. Maybe I’ll take a second or two to soak it all in and then it’s right back to business.”
Williamson pointed out Smoskowitz’s effective communication skills as one of the many reasons he believes the former player will make a good head coach.
“This wouldn’t happen if we weren’t as confident in Dylan and I’d still be coaching,” said Williamson. “I feel 100 per cent that Dylan can do the job and take this team in a great direction. I think his communication skills are outstanding and with the young players nowadays he’s really in tune with them and I think that’s an advantage for him.
“It’s something I’ve seen with my own eyes the last couple of years.”
Smoskowitz said stepping into a new role where he is familiar with the players and the organization will certainly help. He believes it will be a seamless transition knowing what Williamson has established here in terms of how he operates, in terms of how to do things.
As for what kind of team to expect under his guidance, Smoskowitz says he wants a “relentless pressuring team.” One that can play it anyway.
“It’s a team that when our opponents head to the dressing room after 60 minutes, I want them thinking ‘Wow. What was that? What just happened? We couldn’t out-skill them, we couldn’t out-tough them, outskate them. They never stopped. They were relentless. Their first shift was as hard as the last shift,’” he said.
“It’s a huge commitment to fitness, a huge commitment to team tactics, but as long as we have guys who show up at camp in the best shape of their lives and guys who are buying into our systems, I believe we can have a very competitive team that can really make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year.”
Smoskowitz says there’s something special about the city of Barrie and the people who get behind the Colts.
“It’s a huge honour,” he said of being the head coach. “I can’t wait to get going.”
With the recent changes in NCAA eligibility, Williamson believes the move will give him more time to change with that “changing world.”
“We got a couple of kids that are going to play in Pittsburgh next year and I’m going to have to build relationships with two of our draft picks and be down there,” said Williamson. “You just weren’t able to do that as a coach and general manager, so I’m excited.
“I’m excited for the role. I’m excited to work with Dylan and the coaching staff. We know the direction that we want this team to go, and we think we can have a competitive team every year and hopefully one of these years it falls in place for us.”
Assistant coaches Dennis Martindale and Connor Cadaret will also return next season. The team will now commence a search for a new assistant coach to replace Smoskowitz.
“We have two or three guys in mind now, but we’re going to let it open up and see what comes out of the woodwork,” said Williamson.
