Veteran Hockey Mind Will Be Behind El Paso Bench.
Former CHL Player/Coach Will Lead The Buzzards In 2002-03.

The El Paso Buzzards have announced the signing of Craig Coxe as the team’s new head coach and director of hockey operations.

“We are proud to announce the signing of Craig Coxe to the position of head coach of the Buzzards,” said Bill Davidson, Buzzards’ owner and president.

“As a former player in the National Hockey League, Coach Coxe is well positioned to recruit quality players for the Buzzards.

This is the first former National Hockey League player to coach the Buzzards.

With his NHL experience, Craig brings with him not only a wealth of hockey knowledge, but also his extensive contacts with coaches, and management in the NHL, and the American Hockey League. Obviously, this will be a huge asset to our organization.”

“We were contacted by numerous applicants (over 30) for the Buzzards’ head coach, and director of hockey operations position,” said John Zang, Buzzards’ vice president and director of operations.

“Many of these coaches had impressive coaching backgrounds. Craig came forward very recently and indicated that he still had a passion for the game. We couldn’t be happier that he contacted us.

We believe that in Craig we have selected a coach who will best be able to return the Buzzards to the President’s Cup. We could not ignore his long career in the NHL.

You don’t make it to the NHL from California without an understanding of the game, and a lot of hard work.

There is no question that he will bring this passion to El Paso. In addition, the extensive contacts Coach Coxe has, both at the NHL level and at the minor league level, will be invaluable in recruiting players for the Buzzards.”

Coxe began his coaching career as a player/assistant coach with Slovenia’s Elite League in the 1995-1996 season.

He continued in a player/assistant coach capacity with the Tulsa Oilers the following two seasons, and with the Corpus Christi Ice Rays (WPHL) in the 1998-1999 season.

During the 1999-2000 season, Coxe retired from hockey to become the full time assistant coach of the San Antonio Iguanas (CHL).

That season, he and head coach Chris Stewart coached the Iguanas to a 33-32-5 record.

The following year Coxe was named head coach of the Huntsville Tornado of the CHL.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to coach the Buzzards,” said Coxe, 38. “I missed not being involved with hockey last season, and after being in pro hockey since 1984, I am happy to make my return with the Buzzards.

I have played in El Paso a few times, and now I look forward to becoming acquainted with the community.

El Paso is a nice city and friends of mine who have lived there have had nothing but good things to say about the area. As well, it’s a pleasure to join a team with great fans in a city that has a strong hockey history.

The Buzzards have won two league championships and I am ready to bring back another.”

Coxe becomes the third coach in Buzzards history.

Todd Brost led El Paso to back to back WPHL titles in the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 seasons, compiling a regular season record of 151-94-27 in his four seasons, while former Buzzards defenseman Trent Eigner served as coach the past two years, posting a 65-57-12 mark.

Coxe and his Buzzards will play in the CHL's Southwest Division the coming season, along with the Lubbock Cotton Kings, New Mexico Scorpions and Odessa Jackalopes.

The CHL enjoyed a 16% attendance increase during the 2001/2002 regular season. This led all North American minor professional circuits with a per game average attendance of 4,356 in post-season play.

The 2002/2003 regular season is slated to begin Thursday, October 17th, and conclude Sunday, March 16th of 2003.