Head coach and general manager Jeff Carr, who helped guide last season’s revival of the Norfolk Admirals, has agreed to a multi-year extension with the team.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed in a release from the Admirals on Tuesday.
Carr, 39, led Norfolk to its first playoff berth in 10 years after the club’s winningest regular season since 2011-12. The Admirals had their first winning record since moving from the AHL to the ECHL in 2015-16 and won a first-round playoff series against Trois-Rivieres.
“The opportunity in continuing to help build a world-class team in a prominent pro hockey city was a no-brainer for me,” Carr said in a release. “Working side-by-side with our first-class ownership and affiliates to develop our players and bringing a winner to this city inspires me daily.”
Carr, a Wisconsin native, took over as Admirals head coach eight games into the 2022-23 season after a 1-7 start. The Admirals compiled an ECHL-low 47 points that season, finishing with 21 victories and finishing last in the North Division.
But in the 2023-24 season — Norfolk’s second as an affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose — the Admirals finished with 41 wins and 89 points and were second in the division.
“Our commitment to Hampton Roads remains unwavering as we focus on delivering top-tier entertainment with a competitive spirit,” Admirals owner and CEO Patrick Cavanagh said. “This multi-year agreement with Coach Carr underscores our dedication to creating unforgettable experiences while striving towards our championship-caliber goals.”
Carr began his coaching career in 2012 and was the SPHL Coach of the Year with the Knoxville Ice Bears in 2022. Carr was named an Admirals assistant coach in August 2022.
“I want to thank my wife and family for always supporting me on this hockey journey,” Carr said. “I’d also like to thank the Cavanaghs for the belief in bringing me here and extending for years to come. Most of all, I’d like to thank all the people that I get the pleasure to work with, which is the hockey operations and front-office staff, our historic fanbase, and most of all, the players that put in an incredible amount of effort into the Norfolk Admirals sweater.”
