Why You Should Have Several Coaching Mentors (Including a Couple That Are Younger or Less Experienced Than You)

Coaching hockey is a never-ending learning process. No matter how many years you’ve been behind the bench, the game continues to evolve, and new coaching philosophies, strategies, and technologies emerge. The best coaches are lifelong learners, always seeking ways to improve, adapt, and refine their approach.

One of the most effective ways to grow as a coach is by having multiple mentors—people you can learn from, bounce ideas off, and challenge your thinking. However, when most people think about mentorship, they envision an older, more experienced coach guiding a younger or less seasoned one. While that type of mentorship is valuable, limiting yourself to only that perspective is a mistake.

The best coaching mentors come in all shapes and sizes. Some will have more experience than you, some will be your peers, and some may even be younger or less experienced. Expanding your network of mentors to include a diverse group will help you become a more well-rounded and adaptable coach. Here’s why.

The Benefits of Having Multiple Coaching Mentors

Relying on a single mentor can limit your development as a coach. While one person may provide invaluable wisdom, they also have their own biases, experiences, and blind spots. By learning from multiple people, you gain a broader perspective on coaching, player development, and team management.

1. Different Strengths, Different Lessons

No single coach is an expert in every area. Some excel in skill development, others in tactics, player psychology, team culture, or analytics. By having multiple mentors, you gain access to a variety of expertise.

For example:

• One mentor might be a master at running efficient, high-tempo practices.

• Another could be a skilled communicator who helps you navigate difficult conversations with players or parents.

• A third might be deeply involved in analytics and show you new ways to track and interpret player data.

By pulling from multiple sources, you can develop a more complete coaching toolkit.

2. Exposure to Different Coaching Philosophies

There is no single "right way" to coach. Every successful coach has a unique approach shaped by their experiences, beliefs, and influences. If you only learn from one mentor, you risk adopting a narrow mindset.

Having multiple mentors allows you to see different coaching philosophies in action and determine which elements resonate with you. You might combine the structure of a disciplined coach with the creativity of a more free-flowing one. You might take inspiration from both an old-school, hard-nosed coach and a modern, player-first leader.

The best coaches blend ideas from multiple sources to create their own unique coaching style.

3. Avoiding Stagnation

If you only learn from one person (or just a small, like-minded group), you risk becoming stagnant. The hockey world moves fast. What worked 10 years ago may not be effective today. The best coaches stay ahead of the curve by continuously learning.

Having multiple mentors forces you to challenge your own ideas and remain open to growth. A fresh perspective—especially from someone outside your usual circle—can push you to think differently and innovate.

Why You Should Have Younger or Less Experienced Mentors

Traditionally, mentorship flows in one direction: older, more experienced individuals teaching the younger generation. While this model has value, it overlooks the benefits of learning from those with different—and sometimes less—experience.

Having younger or less experienced mentors might seem counterintuitive, but it can provide insights you wouldn’t get elsewhere. Here’s why:

1. They See the Game Differently

Hockey is evolving rapidly, especially with the rise of analytics, skill development techniques, and new coaching methodologies. Younger coaches have often grown up in this modern hockey environment and may have different perspectives on how the game should be played and coached.

For example:

• Younger coaches may have a stronger grasp of modern offensive systems, skill development methods, or small-area games that challenge traditional coaching approaches.

• They might be more open to integrating technology, video analysis, or analytics into player development.

• They often relate better to today’s players, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha athletes, who have different learning styles and motivations.

Even if you have decades of experience, learning from someone younger can help you stay current and adaptable.

2. Fresh Eyes on Old Problems

Younger or less experienced coaches haven’t been in the game as long, which means they haven’t been conditioned to do things a certain way. They may look at a long-standing issue with a fresh perspective and offer a creative solution that a veteran coach might not consider.

Sometimes, experience can create mental roadblocks—“this is just how it’s always been done.” A younger coach might challenge that thinking and propose an alternative that makes sense in today’s game.

3. Keeping Up with Player Mentality and Culture

The way players think, communicate, and interact has changed. The days of a coach barking orders and expecting complete obedience are fading. Today’s athletes want to understand why they are doing something. They respond better to collaboration, feedback, and individualized coaching.

Younger coaches, having grown up in this environment, often have a natural understanding of how to connect with modern players. Learning from them can help you adapt your communication style, team culture, and player development approach to better engage your athletes.

4. The Energy and Enthusiasm Factor

Newer coaches bring passion, energy, and excitement to the game. Their enthusiasm can be contagious and can reignite your own love for coaching.

If you’ve been coaching for a long time, it’s easy to fall into routines and habits.

Working with younger coaches can reintroduce that spark—reminding you why you started coaching in the first place.

How to Build a Diverse Mentorship Network

To maximize your growth, actively seek out mentors with different backgrounds, levels of experience, and areas of expertise. Here’s how:

1. Identify What You Want to Learn

Think about areas where you want to improve. Are you looking to modernize your offensive systems? Better understand analytics? Improve your communication with players? Knowing what you want to learn can help you find the right mentors.

2. Look Beyond Your Immediate Circle

Many coaches default to mentors within their organization or immediate network. While that’s a good starting point, don’t be afraid to reach out beyond that. Attend coaching clinics, engage with coaches on social media, join coaching groups, or seek out experts in specific areas.

3. Be Open to Different Learning Styles

Mentorship doesn’t have to be a formal, structured relationship. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having regular conversations, exchanging ideas, or watching how another coach operates. You can learn from people even if you don’t have an official “mentor-mentee” title.

4. Give Back and Teach Others

Mentorship is a two-way street. While you learn from others, you should also be willing to share your knowledge with younger or less experienced coaches. Teaching others not only helps them but also forces you to articulate your own coaching philosophies more clearly, reinforcing your own learning.

Final Thoughts

The best hockey coaches never stop learning. By surrounding yourself with multiple mentors—some more experienced, some less experienced, and some younger—you expose yourself to a diverse range of ideas, strategies, and perspectives.

Younger and less experienced coaches can challenge your thinking, introduce new methods, and help you stay connected to the evolving game. At the same time, veteran mentors provide wisdom, experience, and proven coaching principles.

A well-rounded mentorship network ensures you’re always growing, adapting, and improving—not just for yourself, but for your players. And ultimately, that’s what coaching is all about: giving your athletes the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.