Wranglers announce personnel and coaching change
The Amarillo Wranglers hockey team of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) proudly announces a significant promotion within its ranks, elevating former Head Coach and General Manager, Harry Mahood, to the revered position of President of Hockey Operations.
Additionally, the team is excited to introduce Ryan Anderson as the new Head Coach, coming from a successful tenure as the Associate Head Coach of the Lone Star Brahmas and General Manager of the NA3HL Texas Brahmas.
Harry Mahood, a seasoned hockey expert with a remarkable track record, has been an instrumental figure in the team's history. Coach Mahood took on an almost impossible challenge to be the team's first head coach in franchise history. He assembled some very competitive and talented teams the past two seasons with very limited assets and did it with one of the quickest turnaround times in NAHL history. Mahood led the Wranglers to the playoffs last season with an impressive 9-game win streak to finish out the 2022-23 regular season.
Ryan Anderson, the newly appointed Head Coach, brings with him a wealth of experience and success from his time with the Lone Star and Texas Brahmas. As the head coach of the Fraser Cup Championship-winning team in the North American 3 Hockey League, Anderson exhibited a remarkable ability to develop young talent and lead his squad to 74 victories in only 87 games played, finishing at the top spot of the division for two consecutive seasons. His reputation as a coach dedicated to nurturing players and preparing them for higher levels of hockey speaks volumes about his commitment to excellence.
Team owner and president, Austin Sutter, expressed his enthusiasm for the future of the Amarillo Wranglers under the leadership of Harry Mahood and Ryan Anderson. "As we reflect on the inception of this project two seasons ago, our primary goal was clear: to bring forth a robust and consistently exceptional product that would resonate with our passionate fan base in Amarillo. With utmost deliberation, we sought out the ideal candidate to lead and execute this ambitious vision, and it became evident that Harry Mahood was the perfect fit. From the moment we acquired the franchise, it was our intention for Harry to orchestrate and implement the blueprint for success. Our objective has been to establish a foundation and culture that will stand the test of time and instill pride in our city. Harry has not only met but surpassed all expectations, reinvigorating hockey in the Texas Panhandle.”
“Having Coach Mahood successfully established the structures, values, and groundwork, we are now ready to embark on the path we have always envisioned. Harry's wealth of experience and accomplishments in mentoring talented young coaches gave us confidence that we were a year ahead of schedule in our progress. Thus, we made the decision to promote Harry to President of Hockey operations and hire a new head coach,” continued Sutter. “The process of recruiting a new head coach was approached with utmost seriousness. Our criteria were strict, and Ryan emerged as the ideal candidate who checked all the necessary boxes. His record of championships as a head coach and successful tenure with the respected Lone Star Brahmas organization demonstrated his ability. Furthermore, Ryan's exposure to the intricacies of hockey in the South Division, under the mentorship of one of the league's finest coaches, Dan Wildfong, further solidified our conviction in his capabilities.”
“Today, we find ourselves thrilled to expand our hockey operations and channel significant resources into nurturing and propelling junior hockey players towards NCAA programs. We firmly believe that a collaborative effort, combining diverse hockey minds and experiences, while placing the right individuals in strategic places, will position the Amarillo Wranglers as a world-class junior hockey organization. Our aim is to cultivate a professional personnel structure that mirrors the efficiency and standards seen in NCAA and professional hockey programs. With this collective commitment to excellence, we are confident that the Amarillo Wranglers will continue to reach new heights and establish a legacy of greatness within the realm of junior hockey."
