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With Coyotes' Future Murky, Gretzky Quits as Coach
'Great One' not so much behind the bench, leaves with losing record in Phoenix
By W. McCahill
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Posted Sep 24, 09 7:12 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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With the team’s future murky, Wayne Gretzky quit today as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, marking the end of a tenure for the “Great One” that was anything but. Since Gretzky, 48, came aboard in 2005, the Coyotes are 143-161-24. He’s a part-owner of the financially troubled team, whose sale to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie is being negotiated in bankruptcy court.
“We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected,” reads the statement from the NHL's all-time leading scorer. “Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don’t fit into their future plans, I approached General Manger Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach.”