Chicago Wolves promote Nardella to assistant coach

Bob Nardella has been promoted to an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves, team officials announced Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Nardella, who played six full seasons and parts of three others with the team, has been their skills development coach the past two seasons and a part-time assistant for three seasons.

Nardella ranks as the highest-scoring defenseman in franchise history with 298 points. Overall, he stands second in Wolves annals in games played (476), fifth in assists (239), and sixth in points. Nardella played a primary role when Chicago captured the International Hockey League's Turner Cup in 1998 and 2000 and the American Hockey League's Calder Cup in 2002.

"This means everything to me," Nardella said of joining the staff of new Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson. "I feel like such a part of the organization because, except for a few years, I've been here since the beginning. I care about the Wolves organization deeply. It has defined me over the last 20 years. I take a lot of pride in it."

"It was time for Bob to move into the full-time position," said Wolves general manager Wendell Young, who was teammates with Nardella for five seasons. "He's been coaching here for a few years and he knows the way we work as an organization. He'll be a big help."