When the Atlanta Gladiators Kick off the 2024-25 season, they will be led by a new Assistant Coach. The team announced today that Matt Ginn has been named to the coaching staff for the upcoming season. Ginn joins the Gladiators after serving as the head coach of the Manchester Storm in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) for the past two seasons.
During his time as a netminder, his competitive spirit stood out to former Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl when Ginn arrived at the school as a freshman and earned the starting goaltender position. Pearl was particularly struck by Ginn’s dedication to keeping the net clear even during practice. While playing for Holy Cross (NCAA Division 1), Ginn set numerous college records. Throughout his collegiate career, he amassed a total of 3587 saves, recorded 8 shutouts, played a combined 7760 minutes, and made over 1000 saves in just the 2013/14 season. Ginn attended Holy Cross from 2011 to 2015 and received recognition by being named to the NCAA (AHA) All-Rookie Team in the 2011-2012 season.
Ginn later served as the goalkeeper for the Atlanta Gladiators, playing for the team across three seasons and made 90 appearances. Throughout this period, he was teammates with Gladiators Head Coach Derek Nesbitt. He also had tended net for the Florida Everblades (2014-15), and later for the Kansas City Mavericks and Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2020-21) before heading back to the Manchester Storm for the 2021-22 season.
During his time with the Storm, Ginn served as the team’s starting goalkeeper for a total of three seasons. For the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, he was in net for 108 games and achieved a record of 45 wins, 61 losses, and 0 ties. He maintained a 3.08 goals-against average and a save percentage of .917. He then moved into a coaching position for the subsequent two years. During his initial season as the head coach of the Storm, Ginn adeptly steered the team to a 22-28-4 record, demonstrating a notable improvement of eight points compared to the previous year. This achievement not only secured a playoff spot for Manchester but also placed them in sixth position in the Elite League under Ginn’s leadership. This successful debut season would set the stage for an outstanding performance in the subsequent year for the Storm, as Ginn showcased his coaching skills by guiding the team to 61 points and a 27-20-7 record. His presence and leadership endeared him to the fans in Manchester, making him a fan favorite during his five-season tenure overseas. The Storm’s commendable fourth-place finish in the standings this past season led to Ginn being named the EIHL Coach of the Year. He received the award through a vote by the EIHL General Managers and fellow coaches.
Matt Ginn is set to join the Atlanta Gladiators coaching staff, who will kick off the 2024-25 Season by facing the Indy Fuel at home on October 19th at 7 PM.
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