Beauts round out their bench naming Rhea Coad as Associate Head Coach

A new role for Coad in her second year with the team.

The Buffalo Beauts announced via Twitter today that Rhea Coad will be staying with the team for the 2020-21 season as an Associate Head Coach. Last season, she was an assistant coach.

Coad will join previously named head coach Pete Perram and assistant coach Mark Zarbo behind the bench. This will be her and Perram’s second season with the team and Zarbo’s first.

“The Beauts organization and I are extremely fortunate to have Rhea continue with the coaching staff in a new role. Rhea is a consummate professional and is passionate about her craft. Her contributions are invaluable. She’s an ‘old soul’ coach,” said Perram in the team’s tweet about her new role.

New Beauts General Manager Nate Olivier added “Rhea has earned the respect of players and coaches across the league. Coach Pete and I feel that she is a skilled tactician and her work from on the bench and off the ice is critical to our success. Very excited to have her in this new role for the Beauts.”

Coad played college hockey at SUNY-Canton where she netted 25 points in 76 games. Since 2018-19, she has also been the assistant coach at Nazareth College, a Division III school in Rochester, NY.

Thus far, four of the six teams have at least one coach in place for next season. The head coaches for the Boston Pride, Metropolitan Riveters, and Connecticut Whale are all returning. The Riveters added former player Ashley Johnston to their bench as well.

Minnesota Whitecaps General Manager Jack Brodt has shared the head coaching duties with Ronda Engelhardt for the past two seasons, but their coaching staff has not been confirmed yet. The newest team, the Toronto Six, have not announced their coaching staff.