The Bakersfield Condors have their coaching staff now set for the 2024-25 AHL regular season. As confirmed on their official site, they have agreed terms with Adam Krug and Kelly Guard.
Krug joins the Condors as an assistant coach in place of the recently departed Nate DiCasmirro. Similarly, Guard replaces Sylvain Rodrigue as the team's goaltending coach.
These hirings follow on from the contract extensions recently agreed by head coach Colin Chaulk, assistant coach Keith McCambridge and video coordinator Kris Horn. The rest of the Condors staff consists of strength and conditioning coach Travis Lay, head athletic trainer Josh Bennett, assistant athletic trainer Corey Dirks, head equipment manager Matt Brayfield and assistant equipment manager Ramon Rivera.
Krug brings a winning habit to Bakersfield
Krug joins the team with an extensive wealth of experience and success, particularly as head coach of the Adrian College Bulldogs in NCAA Division III. During 10 seasons in charge he compiled a 229-52-14 record, resulting in the team qualifying for eight NCAA Tournament appearances and winning five NCHA championships.
The 41-year-old was named NCHA Coach of the Year on six occasions with the Bulldogs. However, his crowing achievement was winning the NCAA National Championship title in 2022, which resulted in him being named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year.
The Bulldogs were virtually unstoppable during the 2021-22 season, as they went 31-1-0 and were the unanimous number one in the polls. They easily dispatched of their three tournament opponents, as they captured the first national championship in the program's history.
It meant the world to Krug to have so much success at Adrian College, having previously played two seasons for them in 2007-08 and 2008-09, when they were previously in the MCHA. He produced 129 points and 115 penalty minutes in 57 total games during his two campaigns in Adrian, Michigan.
Guard comes from a similar winning background
Turning to Guard, he has spent the past 12 seasons as goaltending coach for his hometown Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL. During that time the Raiders qualified for the playoffs seven times, and consider that two seasons had no playoffs due to the impact of COVID-19.
The Raiders also won two division titles, but their crowning glory was undoubtedly winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL playoff champions in 2018-19. In direction relation to Guard, consider that during the 2018-19 season the Raiders allowed the second-fewest goals among all 22 WHL teams, with just 156 in 68 games (2.29 Goals Against Average).
The impact of the 41-year-old was such, that he was selected to be part of the Team Canada coaching staff in 2022-23. He went on to help them win gold twice, with the World Junior Team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and the U-18 team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Guard's success extends to his own playing career as a goaltender, particularly a 2003-04 season when he set WHL records with a 1.56 Goals Against Average and 13 shutouts. He also produced a .925 save percentage, as he went 44-14-4 between the pipes and helped the Kelowna Rockets win their first Memorial Cup, with him being named tournament MVP and top goaltender.
With the coaching staff set, the Condors will be hoping to extend a sequence of five consecutive playoff qualifications, with them one of just two Pacific Division teams to manage this feat. For Chaulk specifically, he will aiming to continue his run of making the playoffs in all three seasons he has been in charge.