OBJ announces 2025-26 head coaches

The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets have announced its head coaching lineup for the 2025-26 season. The experienced, professional staff includes veteran coaches with program experience at all levels. 

"We are very fortunate to once again have such a highly accomplished staff in place for next season." said President Ed Gingher. "The strength of our program has always been in the people. This is high character group of leaders that is committed to the every day process of development and is focused on teaching and challenging our players to reach their potential both on and off the ice. This well connected staff will also play a big role in helping our players advance to the next levels of hockey."

18U (2007/08) - Nate Handrahan
Handrahan returns as the bench boss of 18U team after guiding it to a Mid-Am district championship in his first season. Nate brings over 25 years of experience at the elite levels of hockey. His coaching resume includes 14 seasons at the Division I level of college hockey including five years as assistant coach at the Division I level with Niagara University (2001-2004) and Robert Morris University (2004-2006), as well as nine seasons as a head coach for the women's programs at Robert Morris (2006-2011) and Ohio State (2011-2015). Handrahan served as the head coach and general manager of the Columbus Mavericks (USPHL) from 2020-2023. He is also the owner and head coach of Hammer Hockey Development, which works to teach and develop the skill and sense for the the committed player to reach their potential.

As player, Handrahan was a standout defenseman and assistant captain for Niagara University (DI) where he was a two-time all-league player and helped lead the Purple Eagles to a pair of playoff championships in his 4-year career. Upon graduation, Handrahan played professionally for the Roanoke Express (ECHL).

16U (2009) - Josh Harrold
Josh Harrold enters his second season as a head coach after spending the previous five seasons as a head coach of the Cleveland Barons at the 15O and 16U levels. A native of Kirtland Hills, OH, Harrold brings a wealth of experience, including two years as an assistant coach here in Columbus with the USHL's Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets from 2006-08. He was also an assistant coach at the professional level with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) and junior level with the NAHL's Cleveland Barons and Alpena IceDiggers. Harrold has a significant amount of connections to help connect and guide players into the next levels of hockey.

Following a standout career at Miami University (DI), Harrold was signed to his first professional contract by current OBJ president Ed Gingher, who was the general manger of the Dayton Bombers (ECHL) at the time. Harrold would go on to play six seasons professionally, including more than 300 games in the AHL, IHL and ECHL. In 1994-95, he was named the NAHL defenseman of the year and a member of the league's first all-star team.

16U Girls (2009/10) - Kerry Bowman
Kerry Bowman enters his fourth season as our program's girls hockey director and has played a integral role in the program's development, which saw its first team advance to the national tournament this year. Next season, he will once again serve as the head coach of the 16U girls team. An accomplished player, teacher and coach with a well-rounded resume, Bowman came to Columbus after coaching the Washington Pride in the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) at the 19U and 16U levels from 2018-20. Prior to his time in Washington, DC, Bowman was the head coach for the AAA Sun County Panthers in the Ontario Hockey Federation from 2011-17 where he coached the 12U-15U levels. During this time, he also worked full-time as an educator, teaching French as a second language to students in grades 3-8. He has also served as a lead instructor with the CAN/AM Hockey group since 2001.

As a player, Bowman played Division I hockey at Mercyhurst College (DI) where he helped lead the Lakers to the Atlantic Hockey championship and NCAA Tournament in 2005. A two-time Atlantic Hockey Scholar Athlete, Kerry was the recipient of the Bill Smith Memorial Senior Award and served as team captain in 2008. Upon graduating with a bachelors degree in sports medicine, he went on to play two seasons professionally with the IHL's Port Huron Icehawks.

15O (2010) - Kyle Althen
Kyle Althen enters his fifth season as a head coach in the program, and second with the 2010's after leading this squad to the district championship game in 2024-25. Previously, Althen was the head coach of the 2008 birth year for the two seasons at the 14U and 15O levels. Prior to being a head coach, Althen served time as an assistant coach at the 15O level. He also worked as the hockey director at the Battery Hockey Academy for 5 years and now owns Althen Hockey Development, which focuses on elite level training and development throughout the Midwest. Prior to moving to Columbus, Althen spent two seasons as the associate head coach and director of scouting for the Oswego Stampede (NA3HL) and a scout for the Amarillo Bulls in the NAHL.

A native of Cleveland, OH, Althen played college hockey at the University of Akron (ACHA) where he was team president for all four seasons. Althen's junior career was spent with the Wooster Oilers and Central Wisconsin Saints of the GLJHL. In his final season, he captained the Oilers and tallied 63 points in 41 games. He played his high school hockey at Padua Franciscan in Parma.

14U (2011) - Ed McGrane
Ed McGrane enters his first season as a head coach in the program after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the 2011 birth year. This past season, he helped the team to an incredible 49-17-3 season, a district championship and a berth in the upcoming USA Hockey National Championships. McGrane has 14 years of coaching experience at numerous levels of youth hockey.

A native of Hamilton, Ontario, McGrane was a four year standout and captain at UMass-Lowell (DI), where he led the River Hawks all four seasons, tallying 70 goals and 138 points in 144 career games. He was a 2-time member of the All-Hockey East Team and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Following college, he signed an NHL free agent contract with the Minnesota Wild. In 11 seasons playing professionally, McGrane racked up 286 goals and 701 points in 598 games in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and Europe. In 2009, McGrane led the Colorado Eagles to a CHL championship while leading the league in goals (44). 

14U Girls (2011/12) - Michael Darr
Michael Darr enters his third season as a head coach in the program and 2nd straight as head coach of the 14U Girls. This past season, Darr helped make program history as he led the squad to a Mid Am district championship and berth in the National Tournament, which were first time accomplishments since the girls program was re-introduced in 2022-23. Darr led the 12U Girls team in its inaugural season in 2023-24.

Darr has 19 years of coaching experience and has played an integral role in the growth of girls hockey since 2017. Previously, he has spent six seasons helping lead Central Ohio Girls Hockey where he helped develop the organization from beginner developmental programs to elite training camps during the spring and summer months. Furthermore, he helped the EYHA Lady Dragons program expand from one team to six teams at the 8U, 10U select, 12U select, 12U elite and 14U tier 2 levels. While with the Lady Dragons, he was a head coach or assistant coach and helped lead the team's progression of player development.

13U (2012) - Nick Petraglia
Nick Petraglia enters his sixth season in the program and first as a head coach after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the 2012 squad. In addition, Petraglia has worked closely with all teams in the program as the organization's Executive Vice President. He spent 20 years at Miami University as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. As a coach, he helped the RedHawks win 5 conference championships, participate in 10 NCAA Tournaments and advance to 2 Frozen Fours. Petraglia recruited/coached more than 20 players with NHL experience, 12 all-Americans, 32 all-conference selections, 3 conference players of the year, as well as a Hobey Baker Award winner and Olympic captain. He also works extensively with USA Hockey, coaching national development camps and assisting with the evaluation and selection of national teams for the National Team Development Program, Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 5 Nations tournaments.

As a player, the Faribault, MN native helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep to prominence and was in goal for the program’s first ever USA Hockey National Championship in 1999. At Miami, he posted a .902 career save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average from 2000-04 and helped the RedHawks qualify for the NCAA Tournament as a senior.

12U (2013) - Todd Ehrie
Todd Ehrie returns for his 17th season coaching in the program. Next season will mark the 7th season as a head coach at the 12U level. For the past 2 seasons, Ehrie coached to the 2012 team to a 78-47-5 record. In 2024-25, he led the team to an impressive 6-1 record at the Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament. In 2014, he coached the 2001 birth year to a championship at the prestigious tournament. With more than 30 years of coaching experience, he has been an integral part of the growth of our program and the entire Columbus hockey market. 

Ehrie has coached nearly every player that has come through the program at some point, highlighted by the 1997 team that included future NHLers Jack Roslovic, Kole Sherwood and Carson Meyer for several years. He has also spent time as an assistant coach at the 15O, 16U and 18U levels and was the head coach of the 2006 team at the 15O level.

12U Girls (2012/13) - Nick McCreary
Nick McCreary returns as a head coach to the program after spending last season as an assistant coach with the 12U Girls. Previously, McCreary was a head coach of the boys 13U team and assistant at the 16U level. With 12 years of coaching experience, McCreary's resume also includes coaching the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers at both the Jr. A and Jr. B levels. In 2021, McCreary began his work in girls hockey, as head coach with the EYHA Lady Dragons and then assistant with the Columbus Mavericks.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Nick played college hockey at Lebanon Valley College (DIII), where he helped the Dutchmen win two league championships and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to college, he captained the Wyoming Seminary Prep Academy and played travel and varsity hockey in Philadelphia.

11U (2014) - James Nash
James Nash enters in his tenth season coaching in the program and seventh as a head coach. This will be his second consecutive season at the 11U level after guiding the 2013 squad to a successful season in 2024-25. For the previous three seasons, Nash served as head coach at the 13U level. In all, he has more than 15 years of coaching experience and has spent considerable time as a professional skills coach working with elite players of all ages.

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Nash grew up playing AAA hockey in Toronto for the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL (formerly MTHL). He also won an all-Ontario championship with the Brampton Maroons. Nash went on to play his junior hockey for the Mississauga Chargers (OPJHL) and college hockey for Humber College.

10U (2015) - Dale Jordan
Dale Jordan enters his 20th season with the program and will once again serve as head coach at the 10U level. As the program's hockey director, Dale assists with the oversight of the administrative aspect of the program and is responsible for managing teams in the 10U-12U age groups. Dale has more than 2 decades of coaching experience at all different levels and has been a head coach in our program since 2007.

Prior to joining the AAA Blue Jackets, he served as the varsity coach at St. Charles High School for 5 seasons from 2002-2006. During that time he also was a head coach for multiple bantam and pee wee AA travel teams at CCYHA. Jordan also spends time as a private hockey instructor and helps manage the program's camps, clinics and on-ice skills training sessions. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Jordan played his junior hockey for the Columbus Crush and has playing experience at both the Junior A and Junior B levels.

Tryouts will occur between April 7-15, 2025. To learn more, visit our boys tryouts and girls tryouts pages.

Assistant coaches for all teams will be named after tryouts. If you are interested in applying for an assistant coaching position within the organization, please email us at info@aaabluejackets.com.

The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program prides itself on being the premier youth hockey program in Ohio. With an every day mission to develop our student-athletes to reach their potential on and off of the ice, the program aims to provide a healthy and safe environment for the elite player to grow as a player, person and teammate through the great game of hockey.