DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Red Wings will bring a familiar hockey name from NW Ohio to Michigan as Dan Watson has been named the new head coach for the Grand Rapids Griffons. Watson served the past six years as the head coach for the Toledo Walleyes in the ECHL.

Griffons General Manager/Red Wings Assistant General Manager Shawn Horcoff says, “I’m thrilled to announce Dan as the head coach of the Griffons. He established a tremendous winning culture during his six years as head coach in Toledo through his work ethic, communication skills, and the relationships he built with his players. Dan’s passion for player development and familiarity with the Red Wings organization will be vital assets, and we’re confident his experience will lead to the continued growth of our players in Grand Rapids.”

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In six years at Toledo, Watson went 45-19-5-3 going 9-4 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs reaching the Western Conference Finals. He never missed the playoffs as a head coach and went to the Kelly Cup Finals twice in 2019 and 2022 as Toledo won three division titles in 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2021-22. They also won two regular season championships in 2016-17 and 2021-22 with four Western Conference Finals berths in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023. He was the ECHL’s Coach of the Year in 2016-17, his first year at Toledo, when they won a franchise-record 51 games and went to the Western Conference Finals.

He as an association with Detroit’s head coach, Derek Lalonde, as they coached together in Toledo from 2014-16. Watson was an associate head coach to Lalonde and was named the head coach after Lalonde left.

Watson will be introduced to the media and special guests with a Thursday press conference at Van Andel Arena and will be streamed live at www.griffonshockey.com and on the Griffons’ Facebook and YouTube pages at 11:00 a.m.