Coaching Staff

Derek Lalonde - Head Coach / General Manager

Derek Lalonde enters his first season as the Head Coach/General Manager of the Green Bay Gamblers.   Lalonde is the 6th head coach in the 18-year history of the Green Bay Gamblers.

Prior to coming to the Gamblers, Lalonde spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Denver.  While at Denver, Lalonde assisted in all aspects with the DU program, including recruiting, video breakdown, goaltending and skill development. Lalonde helped the Pioneers to two WCHA Championships (2008 & 2010), four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and 122-63-19 record in five seasons as assistant coach.

Lalonde helped recruit six nationally-ranked recruiting classes. He recruited 11 NHL draft picks, including first round picks Beau Bennett and Joe Colborne. Lalonde also recruited second round selections Jason Zucker, Patrick Wiercioch, Drew Shore and William Wrenn, and non-drafted recruits Tyler Bozak and Anthony Maiani.

Prior to his time at Denver, Lalonde was an assistant coach at Ferris State.  While at Ferris State, Lalonde helped the Bulldogs to a 76-67-12 record during his four-year tenure. Ferris State captured its first Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Championship and CCHA Super Six Championship appearance during a record-setting 31-10-1 season in 2002-03.

A native of Brasher Falls, N.Y., Lalonde arrived at Ferris State after serving two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Hamilton College. Lalonde held the same position at Lebanon Valley College from 1998-2000. The team went 19-6-1 in the program’s first year of competition. Lalonde was a graduate assistant coach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts from 1995-98.

Lalonde was a four-year member (1990-95) of SUNY Cortland State University’s men’s ice hockey team. He was the recipient of the team’s Red Letter Award in recognition of being selected the Red Dragons’ MVP during his senior season and concluded his career as the program’s holder of four goaltending records.

Lalonde graduated in 1995 from Cortland State with a degree in education and earned a master’s degree in education administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 1998.

Derek’s wife, Melissa, is the former head coach of the Ferris State women’s soccer team. They have two sons, Alex (5) and Luke (3), and a daughter, Abby (1).

In September of 2008, Lalonde was inducted into the St. Lawrence Central High School Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a hockey, football and baseball player. He was the youngest person inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame.

Jon Rogger - Assistant Coach

Jon Rogger returns for a fourth year behind the bench as an assistant coach.  Rogger’s responsibilities include working with the Gamblers defensemen, game analysis, video breakdown and recruiting.

During his time in Green Bay, Rogger has been instrumental in leading the Gamblers to a Clark Cup, two Anderson Cups and 145 wins, which over a 3-year span is unmatched by any USHL team past or present in the 32-year history of the league.  With Rogger guiding the defenseman, the Gamblers have led the USHL in goals against in each of the last two USHL campaigns.  For his success, Rogger has been chosen as the Head Coach for the USHL Eastern Division All Stars at the 2009 and 2010 USHL All Star Games.

Prior to his time in Green Bay, Rogger served as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Bandits under former Gamblers head coach Jon Cooper.  With the Bandits, Rogger helped guide the team to the 2008 Robertson Cup.

As a player, Rogger was a four-year member of the Ferris State Men’s Ice Hockey team.  Prior to his time with the Bulldogs, Rogger spent two seasons in the North American Hockey League with the Danville Wings.

Rogger has two children – a daughter Bauer (9) and a son, Christian (13).

Pat Mikesch - Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Pat Mikesch joins the Gamblers coaching staff this season as the team’s recruiting coordinator and assistant coach.  Mikesch brings a great deal of coaching and playing experience at both the collegiate and professional level.  Mikesch will work will all facets of the Gamblers hockey program.

For the past six seasons, Mikesch was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Michigan Tech University of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.  The Houghton, Michigan native continues to be active in USA Hockey, serving as an assistant coach for the United States Under 17 team that captured the gold medal this past August at the 2011 Five Nations Cup in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Mikesch has also served in a head coaching capacity at various USA Select Camps and Festivals.

Mikesch was a four-year member (1992-96) of Michigan Tech’s hockey team. He helped the Huskies to three WCHA Final Fives in four years.  During his freshman campaign, Mikesch was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.  Mikesch was also a three time member of the WCHA ALL-Academic Team. He served as the Huskies team captain for the 1995-96 season, and left Michigan Tech as the program’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 57 goals and 112 assist.  After his collegiate career, Mikesch played eight years of professional hockey in the AHL, IHL, ECHL and in Germany.

Mikesch is no stranger to the USHL spending a pair of seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers (1990-92).  Mikesch was a teammate of former Gamblers head coach Eric Rud on the 1992 Buccaneers team that captured the Clark Cup.

Pat and his wife Amiee currently reside in Hancock, Michigan. They have two sons, Austin (12) and Eliott (6) and one daughter, Kallianne (10).

Carl Lackey - Assistant Coach

Carl Lackey enters his eighth year as the Gamblers honorary coach.

Lackey played his collegiate hockey at Michigan State University under legendary coach Amo Bessone.  The Sault Ste. Marie,Michigan native captained the Spartans in 1964.  That same season, Lackey garnered First Team All American Honors.  A draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings, Lackey played 10 years of professional, seven of which were spent with the Green Bay Bobcats.  Lackey also represented the United Statesat the 1969 World Championships in Sweden and again in 1974 in Yugoslavia.

A member of the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame, Lackey retired from professional hockey in 1974.  After his playing career, Lackey remained in the Green Bay area serving as Guidance Counselor at Green Bay East, Preble and Southwest High Schools.