Background
Waddell, Don was born on August 19, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
professional sports team executive
Waddell, Don was born on August 19, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
He is currently President of Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, parent company of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Waddell was selected 111th overall, in the 1978 National Hockey League Amateur Draft. He was selected as the 3rd choice of the Los Angeles Kings on June 15, 1978.
He played in the National Hockey League for only one game with the Kings during the 1980-1981 season, against the New York Rangers on January 28, 1981.
His playing career consisted mostly of minor and college hockey. He played 4 seasons at Northern Michigan University.
He was one of the final cuts for the 1980 United States. men"s hockey team after he broke his leg in a pre-tournament game. After his tenure as a player, he moved to coaching for the 1987-1988 season with the IHL Flint Spirits as a player-coach.
Foreign the next two seasons, he moved behind the bench permanently.
Waddell moved on to the IHL San Diego Gulls for the 1991-1992 season. Waddell took over as interim coach of the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2002-2003 season with a record of 4–5–1–0 as coach before Bob Hartley was named to the permanent job. After a disappointing start (0–6–0) to the 2007-2008 Atlanta Thrashers season, Waddell was named interim head coach of the team following the dismissal of Bob Hartley.
Foreign several months, he was able to lead the team on a turn around, but the Thrashers ultimately played poorly down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
Coaching record
Early career
Waddell"s first front-office experience came with the International Hockey League"s Flint Spirits during the 1988-1989 season when he served in the duel role of head coach and general manager. He moved into Flint"s front office exclusively for the 1989-1990 season before joining the IHL"s San Diego Gulls.
He was vice president and general manager for the Gulls from 1990-1995 before accepting the same role with the IHL"s Orlando Solar Bears. While in Orlando, Waddell was also vice president of RDV Sports and served on the organization"s executive committee which oversaw the National Basketball Association"s Orlando Magic, the Solar Bears and RDV Sports" retail and aviation interests.
Detroit Red Wings
Atlanta Thrashers
He served as general manager of the Thrashers until the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season when he was promoted to team president, and Rick Dudley succeeded him as general manager.
During his tenure as general manager of the Thrashers, the team recorded a 308-401-45-66 record and made their lone playoff appearance after winning the National Hockey League"s Southeast Division in 2006-2007. Waddell also served as executive vice president and co-chair of the executive committee for the Thrashers" parent company, Atlanta Spirit. Following True North"s purchase of the Thrashers, Waddell announced he would not be moving with the team from Atlanta to Winnipeg.
Pittsburgh Penguins
On January 21, 2012, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced their hiring of Waddell as a professional scout.
Carolina Hurricanes
Waddell was named President of Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the National Hockey League"s Carolina Hurricanes, on July 1, 2014.
Married Cheryl Waddell. 1 child Chelsea.