Coaching Staff

    Mark Carlson

Head Coach and General Manager

Mark Carlson has been the RoughRiders' head coach and general manager since the team arrived in Cedar Rapids. He has coached the RoughRiders to the Clark Cup playoffs every year since the 2000-01 season.  The RoughRiders won the Clark Cup in 2004-05 and the Anderson Cup in both 2004-05 and 2010-11.  Carlson was also named the USHL Coach of the Year in both 2004-05 and 2010-11. Carlson also earned his 400th USHL victory in 2010-11.

Carlson has had the honor of serving as head coach for Team USA during the 2008 and 2009 World Junior A Challenge.  Both years, Team USA won the Gold Medal.  In 2009, Carlson was also recognized as the United States Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year.

Over (115) players who have skated for Carlson have received Division I scholarships, (20) have been selected in the National Hockey League Draft, (21) have signed NHL contracts, (30) are developing in the minor leagues and (9) have made their NHL debuts.  

In addition to his hockey duties, Carlson became part owner of the RoughRiders in 2009.  

A native of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Carlson graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. While at Lowell, Carlson skated as a forward with the River Hawks. His on-ice talent was recognized even before he arrived in Lowell when he was selected in the 1987 National Hockey League draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After graduating from UML, Carlson spent one season as an assistant coach at Lawrenceville School before returning to Lowell to serve as an assistant to head coach Bruce Crowder. After helping the River Hawks to a berth in the 1996 NCAA tournament, Carlson spent another three seasons beside Crowder as an assistant at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also acted as recruiting coordinator. He earned a master's degree in education from N.U.

Carlson and his wife Tammy currently live in Ely with sons Dustin and Brayton.

Travis Winter

Assistant Coach

Travis Winter, a native of Saint Cloud, MN, joined the RoughRiders as an Assistant Coach in 2009.  Prior to beginning his coaching career, Travis was a scholarship athlete and a member of the Bemidji State University Men’s Hockey team.  While at Bemidji, Travis served as captain in his senior year and assistant captain the previous year.  He was named to the CHA All-Academic Team in 2006 through 2008. While studying at Bemidji, Travis was named to the President’s List and Dean’s List.  Travis graduated in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Travis began his coaching career as a volunteer coach for Saint Cloud Youth Hockey and went on to serve as a summer volunteer coach at his alma mater, Saint Cloud Technical High School.  Before joining the RoughRiders, Travis was a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN.  Nationally, Travis coached at the Select 15 National Camp in the summer of 2010.

In addition to Travis’s coaching responsibilities, he coordinates all RoughRider scouting activities and draft evaluations.

     Francis Anzalone

Assistant Coach

In 2011, Francis Anzalone become an Assistant Coach with the RoughRiders after spending each of the previous two seasons as a Regional Scout for the organization.  The Sault Ste. Marie, MI native began coaching at the amateur level immediately following high school in 2006, serving as both a head coach and assistant coach at the Bantam and Midget levels.  From 2008-2010, Anzalone coached Bantam and Midget AAA hockey with the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins organization.  During that time, he also served as the Head Instructor for Planet Ice Hockey Development. 

Anzalone graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.  His father Frank coached Lake Superior State University to a National Championship in 1988, and is presently the NCAA Scout for Calgary Flames.    

    Kevin Brooks

Assistant Coach

Brooks returned to the RoughRiders in September 2008 as an assistant coach after spending two memorable seasons as Rider player from 2001-03. Brooks, a native of Stow, MA, joined the Riders after first excelling at the high school level for St. John's of Shrewsbury, MA and then in the prep school ranks for Lawrence Academy. Brooks went on to score 35 goals and 72 total points in 118 career games. In 2001-02, he finished 2nd on the team in goals (21) and points (46) and was named Rookie of the Year. The next season he captained the team and was named the Fans' Favorite Player.

After departing Cedar Rapids, Brooks played for Providence College and Curry College before injury forced his retirement. Brooks began his coaching career in his home state with the Walpole Express. After a two-year stint with the Express, he returned to Cedar Rapids in April of 2008 as the Youth Hockey Director, a role in which he still serves. Brooks and his wife Kathy reside in Cedar Rapids.

     Scott Meyer

Director of Player Development/Goalie Coach

Meyer serves as the Director of Player Development/Goalie Coach for the RoughRiders.  Meyer joined the organization in 2003, and has helped the RoughRiders capture (2) Anderson Cup Championships in 2005 and 2011. He served as the Assistant Coach for the RoughRiders during their 2004-05 Clark Cup Championship season and was named the USHL All-Star Associate Head Coach in 2005. 

    Chris Ipson, MA, ATC, LAT, ASCM

Certified Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager

Nathan Severson, CSCS, USAW, LMT

Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach

Nathan Severson joined the RoughRiders in November of 2008 after spending the previous four years providing Sports Performance training to area athletes ranging from youth athletes to Major League Baseball Players. Severson's services are provided by St. Luke's Hospital, the official Strength and Conditioning provider of the RoughRiders.

Severson, a native of Elkader, IA graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in the Spring of 2003 earning a Bachelor of Arts in Health Promotion with an Emphasis in Wellness. While at UNI Severson worked with several sports including Panther football, track and wrestling teams. He also completed an internship with Iowa State University working with athletes preparing for Olympic competition.

Severson and his wife Carrie live in Marion with their son Jackson and daughter Natalie.

    JoAnn Perez

Housing Coordinator

JoAnn Perez has been the RoughRiders' Housing Coordinator since the 2005-2006 season.

She is responsible for seeking living accommodations that meet both the players' needs and match the profile of a family in the local Cedar Rapids area. She acts as liaison with Kennedy & Washington High Schools for the RoughRider student players.

The RoughRiders housing program is committed to a mutually beneficial experience for both the athlete and the host family.  Athletes range in age from 16-20 years old and come from all over North America and other countries to become part of one of the finest junior hockey programs in the country.

JoAnn and her husband Gary have two daughters. Tara and husband Jairo have twin boys, Christian and Nicholas, and Leah who is currently attending St. Ambrose University. The Perez family have been housing RoughRiders since the 2001 season.

E-mail JoAnn Perez