Jay Varady is driving to Tucson from Ontario, Canada, passing through Kingman when his phone rings.
Yes, the Tucson Rodrunners鈥 new head coach has time to talk.
Earlier this week, Varady discussed his hiring, philosophy and what the makeup of his first Roadrunners team will look like.
Tucson hired the 40-year-old Varady last month to replace Mike Van Ryn, who was named an assistant coach with the NHL鈥檚 St. Louis Blues.
Varady and his young, talented roster will be tasked with defending as American Hockey League Pacific Division champions, while continuing to develop the next crop of talent for the Arizona Coyotes. Tucson opens its season Oct. 6, with a home game against the San Diego Gulls.
Varady spent last season coaching the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League; before that, he coached the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League for four years.
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Here鈥檚 what Varady said during his interview with the Star:
Was Tucson a new territory for you when you decided to take the job?
A: 鈥淚t is. I鈥檝e never lived in the southwest. My parents have retired in Las Cruces, New Mexico, so I鈥檝e flown into Tucson a couple times in the past to drive over to my parents鈥 house there. So it wasn鈥檛 my first time in town, but I haven鈥檛 spent a lot of time in the area.鈥
You were hired about a month ago. What has the communication been like between you and the team in the time since?
A: 鈥淎t this point in the season, it鈥檚 just a lot of introduction, talking about what their goals are for the season. Obviously, there鈥檚 an entire camp process that needs to happen. There鈥檚 a rookie tournament. There鈥檚 NHL camp and then our camp will eventually get started. In terms of right now, it鈥檚 just getting to know everybody. We鈥檙e talking about the past a little bit, the strengths and weaknesses, and what everybody鈥檚 goals are.鈥
The organization has re-signed a handful of veterans, including Michael Bunting, Laurent Dauphin, and Trevor Murphy. How will their presence help moving forward?
A: 鈥淟ast year the team had a really good foundation and a great season, so that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e really looking to build off of 鈥 that energy they had last season. Those players who have been through that process will help in the beginning.鈥
What type of style of play do you plan to implement?
A: 鈥淲e want to play a hard-pressing game. We want to be a pressure team that is good in transition and is always attacking.鈥
Have you watched a lot of film from last season鈥檚 team?
A: 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the process of that right now. I can鈥檛 say that I鈥檝e watched a lot of film. I鈥檝e watched enough to establish a pretty good base and understanding of the players. That was last season and that鈥檚 over. We use that as information as we move forward, but we鈥檙e really looking at how these guys are coming into camp and going from there.鈥
Is the rest of the coaching staff in place?
A: 鈥淭he staff is exactly the same.鈥
What are you personally looking forward to this season?
A: 鈥淚鈥檓 just looking for a new life challenge. Every time you switch leagues, switch organizations, there鈥檚 a learning that happens. I think everybody has had different experiences in the game and can bring those assets to a season. As you get together and you鈥檙e working with new people, new ideas arise for both players and coaches.鈥
At 40 years old, you鈥檙e not far from the age group of some of the players you鈥檒l be coaching. How might your age come into play?
A: 鈥淢y very first head coaching job came in France and I was 32 at the time. There were four guys older than me on the team as I was coaching. In that case, I learned how to manage that situation. At this point, our team in Tucson is relatively young. Maybe there will be a couple guys over 25 years old, so for me I think the game of hockey is a people game. It鈥檚 about getting the most out of every player. That鈥檚 building relationships and relating to the younger guys.鈥
Do you have a timeline when it comes to assembling a team?
A: 鈥淚n early September, all the prospects go to Las Vegas where there鈥檚 a little mini tournament. Then after that, NHL camp opens. By late September, we鈥檒l open camp in Tucson.鈥
