Kurt Kleinendorst

Kurt Kleinendorst
Kurt Kleinendorst
Born	December 31, 1960 (age 65); Grand Rapids, Minnesota, United States
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey coach, former player
Years active	1983–1990 (player), 1991–present (coach)
Known for	Head coach of Iserlohn Roosters (DEL), Binghamton Senators, USA U18 National Team Development Program

Kurt Kleinendorst (born December 31, 1960) is an American professional ice hockey coach. Since January 2022, he has held the position of head coach for the Iserlohn Roosters competing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Kleinendorst spent four seasons playing at Providence College under coach Lou Lamoriello and was inducted into the institution's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

Playing career

Kleinendorst’s collegiate hockey tenure at Providence College spanned from 1979–80 through 1982–83. Selected 77th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, he never appeared in an NHL game. During the 1983–84 season, he was a member of the Tulsa Oilers (CHL) squad that ceased operations midseason, yet managed to play exclusively on the road for the final six weeks and still secured the Adams Cup. In the 1986–87 season, Kleinendorst competed for both Iserlohn in Germany and Peliitat Heinola in Finland. The following year, he joined the Rotterdam Pandas in the Netherlands (1987–88), then moved back to Germany to play for Ingolstadt during the 1988–89 campaign. He continued participating in minor leagues until 1990.

Coaching career

Transitioning into coaching after his playing days, Kleinendorst served as director of hockey operations and head coach for the Raleigh IceCaps of the East Coast Hockey League between 1991 and 1994, returning to those roles from 1995 to 1997. In the interim 1994–95 season, he worked as assistant coach and assistant general manager with the International Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls. Subsequently, he took on dual responsibilities as general manager and head coach for the UK’s Manchester Storm in the Ice Hockey Superleague from 1997–98 through 1999–2000, earning Coach of the Year recognition following the 1998–99 season.

Kleinendorst joined the New Jersey Devils organization during the 2000–01 season as an assistant coach under Larry Robinson. After spending five years scouting for the team, he was appointed head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Lowell Devils, from 2006–07 until 2008–09. On July 13, 2009, former Devils player John MacLean succeeded him as Lowell’s head coach.

In 2010, Kleinendorst was named head coach of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 squad, guiding them to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. Prior to this, he had served as an assistant coach for Team USA during the 2008 IIHF World Championship. He cited his motivation for accepting this role as the chance to develop high school-aged players within a premier development system.

On August 6, 2010, Kleinendorst agreed to a two-year contract to lead the Binghamton Senators, AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators, taking over from Don Nachbaur. Under his leadership, Binghamton captured the Calder Cup championship in 2011. He departed from the organization upon completion of his contract in 2012.

Kleinendorst was appointed head coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on September 25, 2012; he resigned on May 29, 2013, with Mike Corbett succeeding him.

On July 22, 2013, he accepted a position as head coach of the Iowa Wild, AHL affiliate of NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He was relieved of his duties in November 2014 following an unsatisfactory start to that season.

On November 26, 2015, Kleinendorst assumed head coaching responsibilities for German DEL team ERC Ingolstadt, with his contract extended in March 2016. Nevertheless, on June 8, 2016, he returned to Binghamton to resume his role as head coach rather than continue with Ingolstadt. During his tenure there, the franchise relocated and became known as the Belleville Senators. After two seasons amassing a combined record of 57–86–4–5 without playoff appearances, his contract was not renewed.

On April 25, 2019, Kleinendorst returned once more to Germany as head coach of DEL club Nürnberg Ice Tigers. He stepped down on June 21, 2020, citing a wish to devote more time to family.

On January 11, 2022, Kleinendorst resumed coaching duties in the DEL by taking over as head coach of the struggling Iserlohn Roosters, replacing Brad Tapper. This appointment marked a return to Iserlohn where he had played during the 1986–87 season.

Personal

Kleinendorst and his spouse, Deon (Barbara), are parents to four children: Ryan, Kollin, Kaitlyn, and Jake. Their daughter Katie was involved in lacrosse at North Andover High School and also competed in ice hockey for the North American Hockey Academy located in Stowe, Vermont. By 2013, she had earned a scholarship to play hockey for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. Kleinendorst is the younger sibling of former NHL athlete Scot Kleinendorst and is the fifth among six brothers and sisters.

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team	1981–82
All-ECAC Hockey First Team	1982–83
AHCA East All-American	1982–83

External links