GREENVILLE, S.C. – A month after the team had a change in ownership to Spire Hockey South, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits are making changes to their on-ice product.
Tuesday morning, the team announced they have opted to not renew the contract of head coach Kevin Kerr, and have commenced the search for their fourth head coach in ten years.
Kerr took over the Swamp Rabbits in 2018, one year after winning the 2017 Southern Hockey League championship with the Macon Mayhem. He inherited a team that did not have an affiliation for the 2018-19 season and the team struggled, going 25-41-3-3 and finishing tied for last in the ECHL (Allen Americans).
During the 2019 offseason, the Carolina Hurricanes moved their ECHL affiliation from Florida to Greenville, and the Swamp Rabbits improved somewhat, finishing third in the South Division during the shortened 2019-20 season, with a record of 29-30-4-1.
In each of Kerr’s two years behind the Swamp Rabbits bench, the team allowed over 200 goals (254 in 2018-19, 226 in 2019-20) and had a nominal improvement in the goals for (+18 from 2018-19 to 2019-20).
Prior to taking over as the first coach in Macon Mayhem history, the North Bay, Ontario native spent two seasons with the New York Bobcats in the EHL. His resurgence into coaching came after a five-year hiatus. After wrapping up his playing career, Kerr took over the North Bay Skyhawks of the NOJHL for his first shot behind the bench.
Kerr then took over as head coach of the Flint Generals for two seasons where he had previously played 417 games, tallied 674 points (356G, 318A), and accrued 1,421 PIMS across eight seasons. Kerr was one of two players to have his number retired by the Generals and led the organization in points and goals when the club folded in 2010.
As a player, Kerr was selected by the Buffalo Sabres with a third-round pick in the 1986 NHL Draft. After logging four seasons in the OHL, he began his pro career with the Rochester Americans in the 1987-88 season and led the team in PIMS with 352 in addition to 29 points (18G, 11A). Kerr retired after the 2004-05 season after playing professional hockey for 18 seasons across 15 organizations and six leagues. At the time of Kerr’s retirement, his 677 goals were a career minor league record, while compiling 3,706 PIMS. He also helped capture an AHL championship with the Portland Pirates, a Turner Cup title with the Flint Generals, and was the 1993-94 CoHL MVP.
Stay with The Sin Bin as we follow the coaching search in Greenville and the rest of the happenings across the ECHL during this extended offseason!
