Wildcats will not renew LeRose's contract

The Wichita Falls Wildcats have announced that they will not renew the contract of head coach Mark LeRose for the 2011-12 North American Hockey League (NAHL) season.

LeRose was hired by the team in August of 2010 after the departure of head coach Mike Flanagan, who left to accept a coaching position in the American Hockey League. LeRose completed the 2010-11 season with a 26-27-5 record, good for fourth place in the NAHL's South Division.

In the Wildcats' first playoff appearance since 2009, he led the team to two playoff victories before bowing out in the fifth game of the best-of-five semifinals series against the Topeka RoadRunners. He also led the team to its first-ever NAHL Showcase Tournament championship to begin the season.

“We're looking at the long-term future of the team with this move,” said Wildcats co-owner Roy Davoult. “We felt it's necessary to make changes at this time and wish Mark nothing but the best in the future.”

Davoult also said that, at this time, assistant coach Thomas Billick is still working with the organization.

Davoult and co-owner Rick Brodsky are looking at multiple candidates to fulfill the head coaching vacancy.