Thunder coach Kevin McClelland tries to turn it around after missing playoffs two straight years

Kevin McClelland walks upright, shoulders high, utilizing every bit of his 6 feet to command attention, if not blind reverence.

McClelland’s laughter has a mysterious quality, because it can be difficult to tell whether it’s genuine or sarcastic. His dry, monotonous delivery does little to solve the enigma.

His resting emotion is intensity, conveyed with a piercing glare and stone-faced expression that can fill any room with nervous tension.

Then there’s the approachability – often gradual – that offsets those intimidating qualities. A conversation with McClelland, who begins his sixth season as the Thunder hockey coach on Friday night, is honest and direct, occasionally drifting toward light-hearted. He doesn’t exude warmth, but it’s part of his arsenal.

“He lets us play, and if you work hard he’s going to be on your side,” Thunder captain Ian Lowe said. “Win or lose, as long as you just play hard every night, he’s going to respect that. Mac’s the best coach I’ve had. He always tells you what you (need) to hear. Even if it’s not good, he’s going to tell you.”

▪  ▪  ▪ 

McClelland’s coach as an NHL rookie for the Pittsburgh Penguins was Ed Johnston, who became a role model in reverse. In the early 1980s, McClelland had no idea that he would someday coach, but he quickly figured out how not to be one.

“I was in Pittsburgh as a rookie, and the coach ripped me all the time. All the time,” McClelland said. “I had no confidence. I don’t want anybody on my team to not have that confidence because of what comes out of my mouth, so I’m very conscious of that.”

McClelland’s solution is to never enter the dressing room following a game, choosing instead to address the team the following day. The criticism can still be biting, but it’s not unnecessarily harsh.

In the immediate aftermath of a loss, the outwardly competitive McClelland doesn’t single out players. But he sometimes singles out mistakes that can be traced back to players. When his comments show up in the media, it can be difficult not to take them personally, even if players have become accustomed to his nature.

“If you mess up with Mac, he’ll let you know,” Thunder player-assistant RG Flath said. “How he does it, he understands that every guy is a different guy. Some guys need a little kick in the butt to get them going, other guys need a pat on the back. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve seen that knows the difference between what individual guys need.”

▪  ▪  ▪ 

Players gravitate toward McClelland because of his old-school style that is mixed with the right amount of gentleness. Each player knows where he stands with the coach.

“I try and just be straight up and forward with my players so they know what’s expected of them,” McClelland said. “But I also know that this is a game of mistakes. You have to learn from your mistakes and try to present (criticism) in the right way.”

Players also love McClelland’s pedigree. As the Edmonton Oilers’ enforcer in the late 1980s, McClelland won four Stanley Cup championships while protecting Wayne Gretzky and Edmonton’s other stars.

As a coach, he hasn’t quite reached the pinnacle. He has come painfully close, often to the point of remembering specific plays that could have changed his fate. He lost twice in the Central Hockey League finals with the Thunder after getting the Colorado Eagles to the same point.

“I came to Wichita to play for Kevin McClelland,” Flath said. “Guys do seek him out because they know that guys have career years playing for him. He gives guys opportunities, he gives guys confidence. That’s really what you want in a coach.”

▪  ▪  ▪ 

The Thunder followed two finals appearances by missing the playoffs the last two seasons, and now McClelland’s future with the franchise is no longer secure. He’s in the final year of his contract, though he doesn’t seem too worried about receiving an extension.

“I think about it, but I really don’t care,” McClelland said. “I’ll either be here or I’ll be somewhere else, hopefully.”

McClelland was personally affected by the firing this month of assistant coach Jason Duda, who spent five seasons with McClelland after 14 seasons as a player, during which he set numerous records.

“That guy gave his blood, sweat and tears to this organization for 20 years,” McClelland said. “That’s tough. That’s a tough one. I’ve been here for five years, this is my sixth, so when they kick me to the curb it’s no big deal. But he’s been here for 20 years.”

The Thunder was at its lowest point before McClelland was hired following a nine-win 2009-10 season, and McClelland has raised expectations so much that two straight sub-par seasons is unacceptable.

The contract situation may not concern McClelland, but winning enough this season to theoretically force the hand of management is a priority.

“There’s so much involved in winning – injuries, getting players here,” McClelland said. “So (the contract) is out of my control. If they get someone else in here, good luck to them.”

Thunder 3, Tulsa 2 — Kenton Miller scored the game-winning goal nine seconds after the Oilers tied the score in the final 90 seconds of Friday night’s season-opener in Tulsa.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Thunder coach Kevin McClelland tries to turn it around after missing playoffs two straight years."