Winnipeg Jets media availability with GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Rick Bowness discussing his retirement

At the end of season media availability last Thursday, Jets head coach Rick Bowness was asked about his future. His response was:

“For the last seven years since my last year in Tampa, every year I sit down and talk to Judy, talk to the kids, I’ll talk to Chipper and Chevy. I know what I’m going to do, I know what I want to do, but that will come out.”

We now know what he will do: Retirement which was announced this morning.

He and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke this afternoon from the Matt Frost Media Centre as he reflected on a playing and long coaching career which spanned five decades.

Media Availability:

Topics:

1) Opening remarks from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
2) Opening remarks from head coach Rick Bowness (1:36)
3) Taking us through when he first made decision to final decision (2:58) RB
4) Was there a sense he’d taken this team as far as he could?  (3:43) RB
5) His words from the end of season media avail/succession plan (3:55) RB
6) How much did personal factors play into decision? (4:55) RB
7) Any sense of “unfinished business”? (5:41) RB
8) Did he talk to any of the players before today about his choice? (6:00) RB
9) Did anyone try to change his mind? (6:46) RB
10) Is they had gone a few more rounds, would he have made same decision? (7:34) RB
11) What type of support does it take to pull off this type of career? (7:58) RB
12) What hockey has given him in his life? (9:27) RB
13) What are the emotions he’s feeling right now? (10:17) RB
14) What’s Rick’s lasting legacy? (11:52) KC
15) What is he proudest of in his last two years in Winnipeg? (14:33) RB
16) Has he thought about what he wants to do in retirement? (16:24) RB
17) Can he see himself still involved in the game? (17:04) RB
18) What did he prefer being a player or coach? (17:16) RB
19) Can he answer a question in French? (18:29) RB
20) Would he consider a consulting role? (18:48) RB
21) How much input might he have in succession planning? (19:01) RB
22) Would he rely on Rick to help find next head coach? (19:15) KC
23) Helping to elevate the assistants/associate coaches (20:24) RB
24) What qualities might he look for in next coach to keep things moving forward (22:08) KC
25) What aspect of coaching in 2024, would surprise him from way he coached in 1980? (24:19) RB
26) Did he ever think he was too honest? Too blunt? (26:47) RB
27) Any regrets? (27:33) RB
28) What can he tell us about process for looking for next head coach? (27:38) KC

Audio file:

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