Riders' Carlson approaches coaching milestone

It's been 12 seasons, but some things about Mark Carlson never change.

That's not at all meant to knock the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach and general manager. He's a good guy and one of the best there is at consistently winning and developing young hockey players.

But as he approaches a significant milestone in his USHL career, the last thing Carlson wants to do is talk about it. That's predictable from a guy who focuses strictly on "today," and whose wife jokes she can recite all of his quotes.

"Right now, my focus is on winning the next game," the coach said in what you could call Carlson-speak. "What really matters is we just won two out of three on the road, and we've got another important game tomorrow night in Des Moines."

The next RoughRiders' victory will be the 400th in Carlson's career. The only coach/GM Cedar Rapids has ever had has a 399-246-61 record since coming to town from Northeastern University for the inaugural 1999-2000 season.

Only five other coaches have reached the 400-win plateau in the United States Hockey League, including Waterloo's P.K. O'Handley (424). Former Omaha Lancers boss Mike Hastings has the league record of 529.

Considering Carlson, 41, is part owner of the RoughRiders and last season signed a long-term coaching/general managing contract extension, you'd have to think that top spot will eventually be his.

Not that he'd have much to say about it.

"I'm excited about where our group is right now, and how much better we can get," he said.

The RoughRiders (35-11-5) conclude a grueling road stretch that also saw them play last Thursday in Youngstown, last Friday in Muskegon and last Saturday in Chicago. Cedar Rapids has 75 points, just three behind Green Bay for first place overall and in the USHL's Eastern Conference, with the Riders holding three games in hand.

It's been a good trip thus far, including talking their way out of a potential traffic ticket late Thursday night/early Friday morning en route to their hotel in Ohio. It's being called the "Pizza Caper," with further details unavailable right now.

"Let's just say it worked out well for us," Carlson said with a laugh.

Career coaching wins leaders in USHL history:

Mike Hastings (Omaha) - 529

Dave Siciliano (Thunder Bay, Sioux City) - 522

Bob Ferguson (Sioux City, Des Moines) - 517

Steve Johnson (Lincoln) - 470

*P.K. O'Handley (North Iowa, Waterloo) - 424

*Mark Carlson (Cedar Rapids) - 399

*Kevin Hartzell (Sioux Falls) - 398

*-Active coach