Idaho Steelheads extend head coach Everett Sheen with new 2-year contract
“When we first closed my son Parker was nine months old and now he’s two and exactly the changes I’ve seen in everyday life that I probably would have overlooked.”
BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads signed head coach Everett Sheen last week to a two-year contract extension. Sheen will now serve as head coach in his second season.
“It was great. To have two more years here to realize my vision, especially as the first year was cut, I was really excited about this extension,” said Sheen.
Sheen is the eighth head coach in franchise history. Before his first season as head coach, he spent the last three years as an assistant coach with the team under former head coach Neil Graham.
The 34-year-old Alberta native led the team to a 36-18-7 record in his first season as head coach. The Steelheads were well on their way to making the playoffs when the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) canceled the remainder of the 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19.
Although the cancellation was difficult, Sheen said she gave him the opportunity to spend more time with his family. When the season ended, his son was nine months old. Now his son is two years old and Sheen is grateful that he was part of many of his first milestones.
“At least we have the ice in here,” he said. “It was nice to see people play hockey and just see how the ice got used to, but it’s been a long 20 months.”
Sheen and the team filled in the idle time during the pandemic by helping out at the Grove Hotel, which is connected to Steelhead Stadium. Team members drove the hotel shuttle, helped the cleaning staff and did other tasks if necessary.
“It was an eye opener, absolutely. Just seeing what these cleaning teams do every day in a hotel opens your eyes, “said Sheen Coaching, so it really showed how much I love what I do.”
Aside from being unable to train, Sheen said that one of the toughest aspects of the pandemic was staying away from the players.
“I like to be on the team, to have a team atmosphere, to teach the game,” he said. “I was lucky enough to be helping out in a Texas office for a couple of weeks, so we got a taste of the coaching again, which was nice to learn a few things.”
Now that the Steelheads are back on the ice, Sheen is looking for players who can skate and play a physical, tough game. Among these factors, Sheen is looking for real team players.
“The most important thing we’re looking for is just good people,” he said. “We spend a lot of time together, so you just want to surround yourself with good people who are willing to work.”
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