Ron Wilson to Coach U.S. Olympic Team

From ESPN.com and Pierre LeBrun

Ron Wilson is expected to be named head coach of the U.S. Olympic hockey team on Monday, a source said.

USA Hockey will make an official announcement Monday morning during a conference call.

The 53-year-old Wilson coached the United States to a 1996 World Cup of Hockey upset victory over Team Canada. He’s also coached the U.S. at the 1998 Olympics and 2004 World Cup of Hockey, as well as at the 1994 and 1996 IIHF world hockey championships, winning a bronze in ’96.

Wilson was born in Windsor, Ontario, but has dual citizenship. He was named 27th head coach in Toronto Maple Leafs history last June after previous NHL coaching stops in San Jose, Washington and Anaheim.

Under Wilson this season, the rebuilding Leafs surprised most pr-season predictions of a last-place finish, though Toronto has missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

Wilson’s general manager with Team USA is Brian Burke, who also works in that capacity for the Maple Leafs.

To me, this pick is a no-brainer. Ron Wilson has had success where ever he has been stationed as head coach, and he has history of succeeding in international competition  given the U.S. victory in the 1996 World Cup. Given that the GM of the U.S. team in Vancouver 2010 is his counter-part with the Leafs, Brian Burke, this move certainly cannot come as a surprise. Whether or not they will be successful, we will find out in less than one year’s time.