At the end of season media availability last Thursday, Jets head coach Rick Bowness was asked about his future. His response was:
“For the last seven years since my last year in Tampa, every year I sit down and talk to Judy, talk to the kids, I’ll talk to Chipper and Chevy. I know what I’m going to do, I know what I want to do, but that will come out.”
We now know what he will do: Retirement which was announced this morning.
He and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke this afternoon from the Matt Frost Media Centre as he reflected on a playing and long coaching career which spanned five decades.
Topics:
1) Opening remarks from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
2) Opening remarks from head coach Rick Bowness (1:36)
3) Taking us through when he first made decision to final decision (2:58) RB
4) Was there a sense he'd taken this team as far as he could? (3:43) RB
5) His words from the end of season media avail/succession plan (3:55) RB
6) How much did personal factors play into decision? (4:55) RB
7) Any sense of "unfinished business"? (5:41) RB
8) Did he talk to any of the players before today about his choice? (6:00) RB
9) Did anyone try to change his mind? (6:46) RB
10) Is they had gone a few more rounds, would he have made same decision? (7:34) RB
11) What type of support does it take to pull off this type of career? (7:58) RB
12) What hockey has given him in his life? (9:27) RB
13) What are the emotions he's feeling right now? (10:17) RB
14) What's Rick's lasting legacy? (11:52) KC
15) What is he proudest of in his last two years in Winnipeg? (14:33) RB
16) Has he thought about what he wants to do in retirement? (16:24) RB
17) Can he see himself still involved in the game? (17:04) RB
18) What did he prefer being a player or coach? (17:16) RB
19) Can he answer a question in French? (18:29) RB
20) Would he consider a consulting role? (18:48) RB
21) How much input might he have in succession planning? (19:01) RB
22) Would he rely on Rick to help find next head coach? (19:15) KC
23) Helping to elevate the assistants/associate coaches (20:24) RB
24) What qualities might he look for in next coach to keep things moving forward (22:08) KC
25) What aspect of coaching in 2024, would surprise him from way he coached in 1980? (24:19) RB
26) Did he ever think he was too honest? Too blunt? (26:47) RB
27) Any regrets? (27:33) RB
28) What can he tell us about process for looking for next head coach? (27:38) KC