Babcock joins University of Vermont hockey as volunteer coaching adviser

Mike Babcock has found his next coaching gig.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs coach will join the University of Vermont men's hockey team for the 2020-21 season as a volunteer adviser to the coaching staff, the school announced Wednesday.

"Mike and I have been connected for over 15 years (winning a gold medal together at the 2004 World Championship) and our network goes back even further to our McGill University experience," said Vermont head coach Todd Woodcroft. "He is a premier coach across any athletic platform and as a coaching staff we are very fortunate to be able to draw from his experiences. Mike's knowledge, his network, and, above all else, the modern lens he uses to look at the game of hockey will help accelerate the progression of our entire program."

The Maple Leafs fired the veteran coach early in the 2019-20 season after a lackluster start to the campaign. Babcock will not take a salary with the University of Vermont, but his contract with Toronto runs through the 2022-23 season with an average annual value of $6.25 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Babcock has coached 1,301 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He's also coached Team Canada at various international tournaments, winning gold medals at the Olympics, IIHF World Junior Championship, and IIHF World Championship.

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