More college coaches could make direct jump to first NHL job

Jim Montgomery became the fourth man to go directly from college to his first NHL coaching job when he was hired by the Dallas Stars on Friday.
Montgomery, who coached the University of Denver for the past five seasons and won the national championship in 2017, joins Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Hakstol, who came from the University of North Dakota in 2015; Bob Johnson, who came to the Calgary Flames from the University of Wisconsin in 1982, and Ned Harkness, who took over the Detroit Red Wings in 1970 after coaching at Cornell.

But are there any current college coaches who can make the jump the NHL? Here's a look at three other potential candidates.
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Nate Leaman, Providence College

Leaman, 45, remains one of the finest coaches in college hockey. He has long been lauded for his impeccable preparation and ability to develop players for the next level.
Leeman guided led the Friars to their first NCAA Division I championship in 2015, and Providence has made five straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament under his watch. He reached 100 wins faster than any coach in the history of Providence hockey and is 130-73-26 in seven seasons. Forwards Mark Jankowski (Calgary Flames) and Brandon Tanev (Winnipeg Jets) are among eight players from the 2015-16 team who signed-entry level contracts or amateur tryout agreements with professional teams.

David Quinn, Boston University

Quinn, 51, as diverse a coach as you'll find at the college and pro level, was named coach of the United States for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on April 20. Quinn succeeded U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame coach Jack Parker at Boston University on March 26, 2013, and is 105-68-21 in five seasons. He's led BU to four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2015-18), two Hockey East tournament championships (2015, 2018) and the 2015 Beanpot title. Quinn was an associate at BU for five seasons (2004-09), helping the Terriers win the national championship in 2009 while working primarily as defense coach.
Quinn coached Lake Erie, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, from 2009-12, and was an assistant with the Avalanche in 2012-13. Among the players he's coached at BU who are now in the NHL are defenseman Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), and forwards Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres), Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes), and Jordan Greenway (Minnesota Wild).

Scott Sandelin, University of Minnesota Duluth

Sandelin, 53, took a young group at Minnesota Duluth this season and guided the Bulldogs to the national championship, defeating Notre Dame in the championship game. Five of UMD's top six defensemen were freshmen, and goalie Hunter Shepard was a sophomore.
Sandelin is the second-longest tenured coach in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, behind only Enrico Blasi of Miami University. He is 333-299-84 in 18 seasons at UMD since taking over for Mike Sertich in 2000. Sandelin's teams have advanced to the NCAA Tournament eight times (2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), the Frozen Four four times (2004, 2011, 2017, 2018) and won the national championship in 2011 and 2018.