Joe Paterson was named Head Coach on December 20, 2010, taking over for Interim Head Coach John Paddock. This is Paterson’s first season as a member of the Phantoms coaching staff. Paterson will work with Assistant Coach Riley Cote during the 2010-11 season.

Paterson, 50, was named an assistant coach with the Phantoms the same day Paddock was named the interim head coach of the club.  He had been serving as a scout for the Atlanta Thrashers organization when he joined the Phantoms.

This is Paterson’s second head coaching assignment in the American Hockey League.  He was the head coach of the Louisville Panthers, at the time the primary affiliate of the Florida Panthers, for two seasons from 1999-2001.  He posted a record of 63-81-12-4 and led the team to a 42-win season and the Calder Cup playoffs in 1999-2000.  Paterson also served as head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League from 1995-97, during which time he coached current San Jose center Joe Thornton. 

In addition to his four years of head coaching experience, Paterson brings to the Phantoms an additional 11 years of experience as an AHL assistant coach.  His most recent position was with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was an assistant coach for four seasons from 2005-2009. 

Prior to that, Paterson was an AHL assistant in the Edmonton Oilers organization for three seasons from 2002-05.  He also served in that capacity for the Beast of New Haven (Carolina Hurricanes) from 1997-99, coaching under current Flyers assistant coach Kevin McCarthy.  He made his coaching debut as an assistant with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992, where he spent three seasons (1992-95).

A former Flyer, Paterson was initially drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (87th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.  His 13-year professional career started on a high note in 1980 when, upon the end of his junior career, he joined Detroit’s International Hockey League affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings, and helped the team win its second consecutive Turner Cup championship. 

Paterson played parts of two seasons in the Flyers organization.  He was acquired from Detroit along with Murray Craven in exchange for Darryl Sittler on October 10, 1984.  He played in 11 regular season games for the Flyers, accumulating 43 penalty minutes.  He was also part of the Flyers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1985, contributing three goals and four assists along with 70 PIM in 17 games.  He spent most of the two seasons with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Hershey, posting 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points, along with 241 PIM, in 87 games. 

Over parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the Flyers, Detroit, Los Angeles, and the New York Rangers, Paterson recorded 19 goals and 37 assists for 56 points and collected 829 penalty minutes in 291 games. 

Paterson will make his debut as the head coach of the Phantoms on Sunday, December 26, when they visit the Binghamton Senators.