Nachbaur Moves Into WHL’s Top Two Wenatchee head coach ties Ken Hodge for second all-time

Don Nachbaur has spent more than two decades behind Western Hockey League benches, building a career defined by victories, championships and the development of generations of young players. On Saturday night, another significant milestone was added to that career.

Nachbaur recorded his 742nd WHL regular-season victory as the Wenatchee Wild defeated the Everett Silvertips 3-2 in a shootout, moving him into a tie with longtime Portland Winterhawks coach Ken Hodge for second place on the league's all-time coaching wins list.

Only Don Hay, who finished his WHL coaching career with 752 victories, remains ahead of him.

For Wenatchee general manager Bliss Littler, however, Nachbaur's impact cannot be measured solely by the number of games he has won. The Wild executive pointed to something that has followed Nachbaur throughout his career and ultimately may be more important than any record.

“Don has had a big influence on so many players but more importantly the influence he has had teaching life lessons to so many.”

That perspective provides an important look at what makes a coaching milestone like this meaningful. The wins are easily documented, but the influence a coach has on young players often continues long after their time in junior hockey has ended.

Nachbaur has coached thousands of games throughout a career that has included stops with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, Spokane Chiefs and Wenatchee Wild. His coaching career has also taken him to the NHL and AHL, while his accomplishments in the WHL have earned him three Coach of the Year awards.

He is now in his third season of his current stint with Wenatchee, where he continues to work with players at one of the most important stages of their hockey careers. For many of those players, their time with Nachbaur will be remembered for far more than what appeared on the scoreboard.

The Wild entered the weekend with Nachbaur needing two victories to reach 742. Wenatchee delivered both, defeating Seattle 3-1 before earning the dramatic shootout victory over Everett.

Saturday's game was anything but an easy path to the milestone. Wenatchee goaltender Carsten Leyerzapf stopped 48 shots through regulation and overtime before making two saves in the shootout to secure the victory. The result gave the Wild a four-point weekend and moved Nachbaur alongside Hodge on the WHL's all-time wins list.

Nachbaur's WHL coaching record now stands at 742-597-128. He has also coached 1,468 WHL games, a league record that reflects the longevity of a career that has spanned multiple generations of players.

The next milestone is already within reach. Nachbaur needs one more victory to move into sole possession of second place among WHL coaches. Ten additional victories would put him at 752, matching Hay for the most regular-season wins in league history.

Reaching that record would add another remarkable achievement to Nachbaur's career, but Littler's comments point toward a broader measure of his success. Junior hockey is ultimately about preparing young athletes for what comes after their time in the league, and the lessons players take with them can remain long after their final WHL game.

Nachbaur's 742 victories are now part of the official record book, and his pursuit of the top spot will be closely watched around the league. But his influence on the players who have passed through his dressing rooms represents a part of his legacy that no standings page can fully capture.

For the Wenatchee Wild, that legacy is still being written.