Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) The coach of the Dallas Stars has been dismissed. Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced Tuesday that Jim Montgomery was fired as head coach, effective immediately.
Nill would not go into details about what led up to the firing.
“I found out this weekend and the event happened a few days before that and that’s all I can say,” Nill said.
Nill did confirm that there is not a criminal investigation associated with the decision.
“Monty was very disappointed. I can’t speak for him but I know he is very disappointed and we’re disappointed to. As far as the legal part, I cannot comment on that,” Nill said.
Assistant Head Coach Rick Bowness will become the interim head coach.
Stars Captain Jamie Benn says the news came as a shock to the players. “There’s a lot of questions that want to be answered and we have some too but we don’t know much… it’s our job to focus on this game tonight and that’s what we’ll do,” Benn said. “We didn’t expect this one today, Monty was a great coach and great person and that’s why this one is a little tougher… I loved playing for Monty and wish him all the best,” he said.
Player Tyler Seguin said they’re going to deal with the shock tomorrow and focus on tonight’s game. “We trust our management and trust Jim Nill so whatever happened, obviously he made the right decision and we are going to move on,” he said. “We are fortunate to have the coaches that we do still have here and a guy like Rick Bowness to step up that all the guys respect a ton…looking forward for the opportunity tonight and will all rally together around this,” he said.
Stars play at home Tuesday night at 7:30 against the New Jersey Devils.
.@DallasStars fired head coach Jim Montgomery for “unprofessional conduct.” Rick Bowness was named interim head coach. I spoke to some players they say this came as a surprise but are focused on tonight’s game and will rally together. #DallasStars @WBAP247NEWS @570KLIF pic.twitter.com/OJfTu5LSQe
— Katrina Boonzaier (@katrinaboonz) December 10, 2019
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