Former Melbourne Mustangs coach Brad Vigon has been named the coach of the senior men’s Australian Mighty Roos.
Vigon coached the Mustangs for three seasons, including to the AIHL Championship in 2014, tallying an impressive record of 41-28-7-7 (58%) in 83 games, taking the Mustangs from a last-placed team in 2012 to genuine championship contenders over the past three seasons.
After three years in charge, Vigon left a note to Mustangs members saying he was stepping down was to spend more time with family.
Former CBR Brave coach Matti Luoma has also been named as Vigon’s assistant coach with the Mighty Roos looking to return to Division 2 Group A after being relegated earlier this season.
It was Vigon’s experience as the national teams’ assistant coach in 2013 that gave him the confidence to apply for the national team head coaching role.
“I had a chance to be an assistant coach with the national team a few years back with [former Mighty Roos (2011-13) and Sydney Bears (2000-2015) coach] Vlad Rubes who was the head coach at the time,” Vigon
told IHA. “I learned a lot from him about how to prepare and the processes you need to go through. It was a fantastic experience and it was then that I knew I would like to have a chance to lead the team.”
Since arriving in Australia, Vigon has had a memorable career, joining the Melbourne Ice as a player at 35 years old after previously retiring his professional hockey career in Europe and his native USA at 24.
In his time in the AIHL, he tallied 100 points (43 goals, 57 assists) in 83 games between 2004-2010, as well as captaining the side and taking on the role of assistant coach in 2010 and 2011- the first two years of the Ice’s much-vaunted three-peat.
At 39-years old, Vigon represented Australia at the 2008 World Championships as a member of the squad who made Division 1 at the World Championships for the first time.
“Any time you have the chance to represent your country it is a huge honour,” Vigon
said to IHA. “It had long been a dream of mine to play in a World Championship, but I had long since forgotten about it until I moved to Australia. I was completely taken by surprise that they asked me to play, as I wasn't exactly a spring chicken at the time.”
“I never really thought that I would get the head coaching role. There are a lot of great coaches here and I consider myself very fortunate to be in this position.”
With plenty of achievements since arriving in Australia, Vigon said he had many highlights.
“My time in Australia has been full of memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Vigon said. “My first year in Melbourne, I was a player/coach for the Sharks in the Victorian League. At that time, all players who played in the AIHL also had to play in the local league so the level was very competitive. The team had finished dead last the season before and we won the championship.”
“Also playing for the Melbourne Ice in the formative years out of Oakleigh and helping to turn them into a contender was a great experience, as well as being an assistant coach with them during their first two championships. And I have to mention the gold medal with the Australia team and gaining promotion to Division One for the first time in the country's history.”
Vigon hopes to add more highlights with the national team, telling IHA he likes what the Aussie players have to offer.
“We have a great mixture of youth and experience and a group of guys that I have no doubt will buy into what Matti Louma and I will lay out for them,” Vigon said. “They are hungry, and extremely motivated to get us back where we believe we belong.”
The Mighty Roos will take part in the 2016 Division 2 Group B World Championships in Mexico City, Mexico on April 9-15 with the group including Bulgaria, Israel, North Korea, New Zealand and Mexico.
Mighty Roos Coaching StaffHead Coach: Brad Vigon
Assistant Coach: Matti Luoma
Manager: Ian Webster
Chef de Mission: Steve Ransome
Team Doctor/Physio: Danny George
Equipment Manager: Joey Rezek