Capitals Name Cassidy As Coach

Archived from 2002-03 season.

The Washington Capitals named Bruce Cassidy, who has never spent a day behind the bench in the NHL, as their new head coach.

"I have never coached a day in the NHL, but I don't think that's going to stop what I'm going to try to do -- and that's go out there and win," said Cassidy.

Cassidy, the American Hockey League's coach of the year in 2001-02 after leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to a division championship, replaces Ron Wilson, who was axed last month after the Capitals' disastrous season.

He also had coaching stints in the old International Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.

Before coaching, Cassidy played 13 years as a defenseman. He was the Chicago Blackhawks' first pick in the 1983 NHL draft. He also played in the AHL, IHL and Europe.

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