Former Dallas coach Jim Montgomery says he's getting better; talks future in coaching

Jim Montgomery's firing as head coach of the Dallas Stars on December 10th, 2019 came as a shock to many people, most of all him and his family. His firing came very close to the Bill Peters situation in Calgary, where Peters was eventually forced to resign after several stories of racism and abusive behaviour came to light. At the time, the NHL told clubs it didn't like surprises and to make the league immediately aware of any "incident of conduct involving NHL personnel on or off the ice that is clearly inappropriate, unlawful or demonstrably abusive, or that may violate the league's policies involving NHL club personnel." A day later, Montgomery was gone. In a new interview with Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Montgomery says he's doing much better now.

"Feeling great,” Montgomery told Friedman. “I'm at peace with myself right now. I made bad mistakes, but I am not a bad person.”

Montgomery wouldn't discuss the specific incident that led to his dismissal, but has admitted to drinking more than he should. He spent three weeks in an in-patient facility and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every day. Montgomery hit the 90 day sober mark this week.

“It helps me do the right things,” he said. “The disease made me selfish. I was raised to be a great teammate, to hate people who are (selfish). But I was the one who was selfish. I'm a process-oriented person, and my process now is becoming a better person, father and husband.

“I am not defined by what happened. I will be defined by what I do going forward.”

His wife Emily, speaking out for the first time, said she was angry with her husband at first.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry. I was. I went through a whole mix of emotions. But that was short-lived. The fact that he went away, that he goes to the meeting every day — we're good. Definitely, this is a sad situation for our family to go through. What my husband has done, he's proved the last few months that we will come out of this stronger. He's done everything in his power to change and change for the better."

Montgomery carries around a notebook with him where he rights down notes from AA and conversations with his wife, as well as plays he'd like to use in the future. He told Friedman he definitely wants to coach again when he is fully recovered. His wife agrees with that decision.

“It's in his blood,” Emily said. “I see it when he's on the ice.”

“I'd love him a little more if I saw him a little less,” she joked. “He needs to do it, and he's good at it. I believe in my husband. I know he's going to be better.”

Source: 31 Thoughts

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