Michigan State University Athletics
Damon Whitten Selected As Assistant Coach At Wayne State
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 2, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State hockey volunteer assistant Damon Whitten has been selected as the assistant hockey coach for the Wayne State Warriors as announced by WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson today. Whitten, who will work with the forwards as well as be directly involved in recruiting and all day-to-day operations of the WSU hockey program, also will join a staff that contains former Spartan volunteer coach Willie Mitchell.
"It's a great opportunity and a foot in the door to get into coaching," said Whitten. "It is want I want to do. After taking the advice of (former coach Ron) Mason, current MSU head coach Rick Comley, and current assistant coaches Tom Newton and Brian Renfrew, they told me I have to do it.
"I'm excited about what is going on at Wayne State. I had a chance to watch them play earlier this year. They had a good start to their year and good things are happening down there. It's a really exciting opportunity for me. "
Whitten, who was in his second season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Spartan hockey program, assists with all facets of practices and games, with a specific focus on coaching the team's forwards. He joined the Spartan program after spending two seasons playing in the East Coast Hockey League. With the Arkansas RiverBlades in 2002-03, he collected 12-27--39 totals in 69 games. He skated for the Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL, helping the squad to the 2001-2002 league championship with 9-23--32 points in 64 regular-season games and 2-3--5 totals in 15 playoff games.
 A four-year letterwinner (1997-2001), Whitten appeared in 166 games for the Spartans, compiling 75 points (35 goals, 40 assists).  | |
A left wing for MSU from 1997-2001, Whitten appeared in 166 games as a Spartan, ending his collegiate career with 75 points (35 goals, 40 assists). Whitten's class left MSU as the winningest senior class in program history with a four-year record of 122-28-20, including trips to the Frozen Four in 1999 and 2001 and a NCAA quarterfinal appearance in 1998. During Whitten's playing days, MSU won the CCHA regular-season championship in 1998, 1999 and 2001 and captured the CCHA playoff championship in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
As a senior, he received the Blue Line President's Award as the top scholar-athlete in the senior class and the Amo Bessone Award, which is presented for athletic, scholastic and community participation. He was a two-time nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten At-Large honoree.
Prior to MSU, Whitten spent the 1996-1997 season with the St. Michaels Buzzers of the Provincial Junior `A' Hockey League, where he led the team in short-handed goals and earned the Unsung Hero award. Whitten also led the Detroit Freeze (NAHL) in short-handed goals when he played there from 1995-1996 after graduating from Brighton High School in 1995. Whitten earned four letters in hockey at Brighton and was elected captain as a senior. In addition, he earned team MVP, Kensington Valley Conference MVP and was an all-state selection that season.
Whitten started playing hockey as a goaltender when he was five years old and remained between the pipes until his junior season at Brighton, when took the ice as a forward. Whitten earned second-team all-league for his goaltending talent in 1991-92.
Born April 5, 1977, Whitten earned his bachelor's degree in communications from MSU in 2001. He is currently working on his master's degree in coaching/kinesiology.
Whitten, who married the former Angie Busalacchi on July 31, 2004, will begin his new duties at Wayne State on Monday, Nov. 1.
