A Coach With Proven Winners
Nick Bootland, a 47‑year‑old veteran of North American minor league hockey, has been named the new head coach of the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League.
He arrives after two seasons as an assistant with the Hershey Bears, where he helped the club capture back‑to‑back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024.
Before joining Hershey, Bootland spent twelve years at the helm of the Kalamazoo K‑Wings, guiding the team to the 2011 Kelly Cup Finals and compiling a 437‑337‑79 record.
His extensive coaching résumé includes 853 games in the ECHL, placing him eighth all‑time, and 437 wins that rank him among the league’s most successful bench bosses.
Bootland also logged 98 points in 114 ECHL games as a player for Cincinnati, and he now joins eleven former ECHL coaches who are currently serving as AHL head coaches.
The Monsters organization expressed confidence that his blend of playing experience, playoff pedigree and developmental acumen will help the club push for its own championship aspirations.