REPORT: Pat Ferschweiler Interviews For Flyers Head Coach Position

The Philadelphia Flyers' coaching search took an intriguing turn this week.

NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported that Pat Ferschweiler, fresh off guiding Western Michigan University to its first-ever national championship, interviewed with the organization for their vacant head coaching position.

It's the kind of name that might not cause a splash outside of college hockey circles. But inside the game, especially among those who've paid attention to the trajectory of WMU hockey, Ferschweiler's inclusion in the Flyers' search says something loud: Philadelphia is willing to think differently.

A Winner with a Way

Ferschweiler just wrapped up what can only be described as a storybook season with the Broncos. Under his guidance, WMU not only punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament—something that was once considered a longshot for the program—but ran the table all the way to the national title. 

The win didn’t just make history; it signaled a shift in how mid-major programs could compete with the traditional college powerhouses.

His coaching style? Demanding but fair. Structured but flexible. Former players rave about his communication and ability to break the game down into digestible pieces. He isn’t flashy behind the bench. He doesn’t need to be. His teams are well-drilled, committed, and play fast. And perhaps most importantly: they buy in.

That kind of trust, culture, and buy-in is something the Flyers have been trying to recapture for a long time.

A Familiar Face in High Places

The other part of this story—the part that adds a little extra smoke to the fire—is the relationship between Ferschweiler and Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones. 

The two were teammates at Western Michigan in the early ’90s, and while the front office has said all the right things about casting a wide net in the coaching search, it’s clear this isn’t just a random name pulled from a list.

There’s mutual respect here. Shared history. A belief, perhaps, that Ferschweiler’s voice could resonate with a young, evolving Flyers team.

This wouldn’t be the first time a college coach jumped to the NHL. The track record is mixed, but the takeaway is that NHL front offices are more willing than ever to consider outside-the-box candidates—especially ones with a recent history of developing young talent and managing high-stakes games.

A Developmental Mindset

With the Flyers staring down a long-term vision that’s centered on player development, Ferschweiler's résumé aligns well. Western Michigan was not a perennial blueblood. It took vision and patience to build what he built there. He didn’t inherit stars—he helped make them.

In a league where patience is often in short supply, the Flyers have committed to the idea of a step-by-step climb. That means empowering young players to take on bigger roles. It means having a coach who can teach, communicate, and hold players accountable without losing the room.

Flyers GM Danny Brière outlined the attributes that they're prioritizing as the interview process commences. 

“First of all, I always think communication is important,” he said. “That is going to be something we look into. I mentioned the day after — or was it the same day — we let go of Torts, someone who can come in and teach will be an important one as well.

"Communication and teaching are probably two things that will be at the forefront of our next coach. Just when you have a young team in place, I really think those two attributes are extremely important.”

Ferschweiler checks a lot of those boxes, even if he hasn’t done it at the NHL level (yet), but being a first-timer in The Show isn't a dealbreaker, as Brière was also clear about the fact that they would be more than willing to take a chance on an NHL newcomer if they felt it was a good fit.

“If you find the right coach that you also believe can take you there but also help you win, that’s a no-brainer,” he said. “It will depend on who is available…Hopefully, you find the coach that can do it all. Most coaches will tell you they can do it all and some have, some have not. If it’s a rookie coach, we will learn along the way so it’s going to be tough to tell. But at this point I don’t know yet.”

What Comes Next?

This doesn’t mean Ferschweiler is the frontrunner. He's simply the first name that has been reported to have done a formal interview with the Flyers. They're reportedly also interested in names like Rick Tocchet and even potentially David Carle of Denver University—another college champion with developmental pedigree.

But Ferschweiler’s interview makes it clear: the Flyers are serious about fresh voices. They’re not just looking for someone to bark from behind the bench. They want someone who can build something, brick by brick.

If that sounds a lot like what Ferschweiler just did in Kalamazoo, well, maybe that’s the point.

The Flyers’ next head coach will inherit a young team on the rise, one that still needs structure, belief, and a clear identity. Pat Ferschweiler has delivered all three before. The question now is whether the Flyers believe he can do it again—on the biggest stage of all.