DENVER – The Dallas Stars fired head coach Jim Montgomery – the former University of Denver hockey coach – on Tuesday for what the team called “unprofessional conduct” at the onset of his second season leading the team.
“The Dallas Stars expect all of our employees to act with integrity and exhibit professional behavior while working for and representing our organization,” Stars General Manager Jim Nill said in a statement. “This decision was made due to unprofessional conduct with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League.”
It was not immediately clear what Nill was referring to regarding Montgomery’s conduct and the team did not elaborate. Nill said at a morning news conference that there was no criminal investigation tied to the conduct and the incident did not involve current or past players, the Dallas Morning News reported.
TSN reported that the situation was not related to abuse. The NHL on Monday unveiled a new plan on how the league deals with personal conduct.
Montgomery led the Stars to the playoffs last year and the team was fourth in the Central Division, with a 17-11-3 record so far this season.
He was in his second season with the Stars after leading the DU Pioneers for five years, including to a national championship in the 2016-17 season.
The Stars said assistant coach Rick Bowness will take over as interim head coach for the team.
