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 in 1999. He has piloted the Riders to nine straight winning seasons and nine straight Clark Cup playoff berths.
In addition to his hockey duties, Carlson became part owner of the RoughRiders in 2009, following a season in which he earned his 300th coaching victory and recognition as the United States Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year.
Carlson led the RoughRiders to the first Clark Cup title in team history, the Anderson Cup regular season title, and the East Division title in both 2004-05 and 2005-06. The Riders went 42-13-5 during the regular season- the best record in club history- and swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs before defeating Sioux City in the finals. Carlson was named the 2004-05 USHL Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Over 110 players who have skated for Carlson in Cedar Rapids have received Division I scholarships, 14 have been selected in the National Hockey League Draft and so far five Rider alumni- Dave Moss (Calgary), Ted Purcell (Los Angeles), Justin Abdelkader (Detroit), Derek Peltier (Colorado), and Alec Martinez (Los Angeles)- have played in the NHL.
Carlson had the honor of serving as head coach for Team USA during the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, and led that team to win the gold. He will serve as head coach once again for the 2009 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, P.E.I.
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 taken 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.
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 Hockey Director, a role in which he still serves. Brooks and his wife Kathy reside in Cedar Rapids.
Scott Meyer
Goaltending Coach
Matthew Degel
Equipment Manager
Matthew Degel, a native of Reading, Massachusetts, joined the RoughRiders in September of 2007. He has ample experience in equipment management, having worked at ice rinks in his home state for six years. He was an assistant rink manager in Watertown, Massachusetts and also served as a shift manager at Burbank Ice Arena in Reading.
Degel, who attended Southern Maine Technical College, is also a trained carpenter with considerable experience in residential and commercial construction.
Jaccob O'Connor
Equipment & Trainer's Assistant
Jaccob O'Connor is in his third year of working with the RoughRiders as the Equipment & Trainer's Assistant. His responsibilities include taking care of the visiting team's needs, as well as setting up game day operations. Jaccob is currently a junior at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids
Leo Miller
Certified Athletic Trainer, A.T.C, L.A.T.
Leo Miller joined the RoughRiders in July 2008 after spending the 2007-08 season as the Waterloo Black Hawks' lead student athletic trainer. Miller's services are provided by St. Luke's Hospital, the official medical provider of the RoughRiders.
Miller, a native of LeRoy, Minnesota, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in the spring of 2008 with a B.A. in Athletic Training. While at UNI Miller worked with the Panther football, volleyball, basketball, softball and swimming teams. He also worked with student athletes from Waterloo West and Cedar Falls High Schools.
Miller and his wife Katie live in Swisher.
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.
