ECHL Breaking News: Fort Wayne Komets Set To Hire Jesse Kallechy As Head Coach

The Fort Wayne Komets are announcing Jesse Kallechy as their new head coach tomorrow, according to Justin Cohn of the Journal Gazette. A press conference to formally introduce him will take place tomorrow at 1:00 EST.

Kallechy replaces Ben Boudreau, who was head coach of the Komets for four years with a 134-96-19-8 regular-season record. During his tenure, the Komets won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2021 and made the playoffs each year, leaving out the COVID-shortened 2019-2020 season, where they finished third in the Central Division.

Kallechy, 33, played for four seasons in the Southern Professional Hockey League as a goalie, the last two with the Huntsville Havoc. He changed his sweater and pads for a suit and stepped behind the bench to serve as the Havoc’s assistant, helping the team go from 11 wins to President’s Cup champion in two years.

That success got him his first head coaching opportunity with the Fayetteville Marksmen, where he again improved a struggling franchise. After sitting in last place the year before, Kallechy took the Marksmen to the playoffs in his first year and to a second-place finish in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. The latter earned him the SPHL Coach of the Year award.

When longtime Everblades assistant/associate head coach Tad O’Had departed to become the head coach of the Kansas City Mavericks, Florida hired Kallechy to replace him. It was his first time – either as a player or coach – to reach the ECHL level. During his three seasons in Estero, the Everblades made the playoffs all three years and won the last two Kelly Cups.

Kallechy is the fourth Everblades assistant to become an ECHL head coach. O’Had is currently the head coach and general manager with Kansas City. Brad Tapper coached the Adirondack Thunder for a season and spent time as an AHL assistant. Jason Nobili had a 34-game stint coaching the Reading Royals.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Jed Pietila Reels in Another Season with Toledo

Defenseman Jed Pietila is officially back in Walleye blue. The team announced the re-signing of Jed Pietila, bringing the blueliner back for the 2025-26 season after a strong first full year in the pros. 2024-25 Season Recap Pietila appeared in 59 games with the Toledo Walleye during the 2024-25 regular season, picking up two goals […]

Read More

ECHL: Allen Americans Sign Thomas Caron

The Allen Americans have announced that they’ve signed forward Thomas Caron for the 2025-26 season. Caron, 28, played in 31 games with the Idaho Steelheads, putting up eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points. In January, he would be traded to the Indy Fuel before being suspended by the team just two days later. […]

Read More

ECHL: Cole Fraser Joins Worcester Railers

The Worcester Railers have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Cole Fraser for the 2025-26 season. Fraser, 25, played in 35 games last season with the Allen Americans, where he put up two goals and two assists for four points along with 88 PIMS. The addition of Fraser will add some toughness to the Railers’ blueline […]

Read More