Jay Varady Returns To Tucson Roadrunners

After spending the 2020-21 season on the Arizona Coyotes bench, Jay Varady will return to the AHL. The organization announced today that Varady has signed a new three-year contract as head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners. Bill Armstrong, GM of the Coyotes, released a short statement:

Jay is an excellent coach who led the Roadrunners to a Pacific Division title. Over the past three years, he has done a tremendous job developing our prospects and we are thrilled to have him back as our head coach in Tucson.

The Coyotes of course have a new head coach in Andre Tourigny, who replaces the outgoing Rick Tocchet who parted ways with the team at the end of the season. Tourigny will be able to bring in his staff but the team will not lose Varady as an asset, moving him back to the AHL to continue working with the team’s prospects.

Now 43, Varady has had plenty of success as a head coach, starting in France where he led the Ducs d’Angers to a 21-2-3 record in 2012-13. He then joined the Sioux City Musketeers, eventually taking the USHL program to the finals. One year in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs finished with a third-round berth, while the Roadrunners have a 70-45-11 record under Varady’s watch.

Slowly, it seems, the Coyotes are sorting out their organizational structure under Armstrong. Just yesterday they brought in a new director of pro scouting and have made several other hires over the last few months.