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Sunday, November 8, 1998
Learning the hard way
Hartley's coaching career a trial by fire
At the age of 17, he was preparing to go to university to study to be a schoolteacher for mentally handicapped kids.
Hartley was going to change the family tradition of working in the local paper plant in Hawkesbury, Ont.
It never happened.
That summer, his dad died. His life changed completely.
"When my dad passed away, he was in management in a local paper plant," said Hartley after leading his Colorado Avalanche through a practice at the Saddledome.
"During my father's funeral services, the plant manager took my mom aside and told her that there had been four generations of Hartleys who worked in the plant, and that if she wanted her son to be the fifth generation, he would be in. My mom passed this on to me. School was not starting before September, so I had a few weeks to think it over.
"The paper plant in my hometown was the pride of our community. It was the major employer. We were making good money and a good living. It was a plant where you were working with family and friends. I decided that I wanted to be with my mom and younger sister, so I turned down school and I worked there. I worked there for four years and then the plant closed down. Fortunately, a neighbor was an important guy at the new windshield plant. It was a newer plant and an important part of our community. I got a job there."
Hockey had been a part of Hartley's youth, but only when he volunteered to help coach the goalies on the local junior team did he involve himself in the game.
"Eight games into the season, when they had a record of 0-8, I was asked to step in as a coach," laughs Hartley. "I had no plans to become a coach. I had a good job, and I was close to home. It was more a hobby to me than anything. Finally, the president of the hockey club convinced me to take the job. Actually, they forced me.
"It was fun. (But) almost every week during the first year, I asked the president whether or not he had found my replacement. That was our deal. I was just stepping in to help the team and the president finish the season.
"We made the playoffs and those playoffs gave me the 'needle'. The `needle' in that hockey was becoming like a drug to me. I could kind of see myself as a kid again: hockey was a huge part of my life. The team made me a good offer and I accepted it."
From that first coaching stint, it's been an 11-year rise to the pinnacle of his newfound career.
A slow start for the Avs has many wondering if Hartley has the stuff to be an NHL coach.
Hartley has heard the criticism. He's heard it before, and always overcome it.
"There was always a question of how I would handle the big stars, the money, the ego, all those things," he said.
"One thing is so important to understand is that I'm dealing with stars but also very simple individuals. They want to play and have fun and there is absolutely no problem with them."
Hartley isn't worried about being judged by fans or his players upon his team's performance to date -- a dismal 4-7-1.
"My dad told me how you always hear about people who do things good or things bad," he said. "I told him once I didn't want to play for a coach who I had heard bad things about and he told me you don't judge people by what you hear but what you see."