Don Nachbaur went up another rung on the WHL’s all-time coaching ladder.
During Friday’s 2-0 win over the Penticton Vees, the Prince George product notched his 743rd victory as head coach, ranking second all-time in league history, surpassing legendary Portland Winterhawks and Edmonton Oil Kings bench boss Ken Hodge.
Nachbaur sits 10 wins shy of surpassing Don Hay who has 752 victories under his belt, the most ever in the WHL.
He has spent his entire 22-year WHL coaching career in Washington State.
Nachbaur also surpassed Hodge for most games coached in November of 2025.
After hanging up his skates as a player in 1993-94, Nachbaur jumped right into the coaching ranks taking the reins of the Seattle Thunderbirds where he spent six seasons (1994-2000).
Following two years as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Philadelphia Phantoms, Nachbaur returned the Pacific Northwest, this time with the Tri-City Americans.
His tenure in Kennewick last from 2003-2009 before departing for the AHL a second time with the Binghamton Senators.
Only lasting a year in New York State, the 67-year-old again returned to familiar roots becoming bench boss of the Spokane Chiefs (2010-17)
Nachbaur spent seven seasons in Spokane before finally getting the call to the NHL as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings (2017-19).
The northern BC native then toured Europe twice getting head coaching gigs in Slovakia and Switzerland.
Three more years in the AHL with the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers led to his latest stop in Wenatchee.
Nachbaur is a three-time WHL Coach of the Year recipient.
As a player, Nachbaur starred on the ice with the Merritt Centennials (BCHL) and Billings Bighorns (WHL).
Nachbaur had a long-playing career in the pro ranks, mainly bouncing between the AHL and NHL.
The 67-year-old played in 223 NHL games with the Hartford Whalers, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.
In the minors, he called home in Springfield (Indians), Hershey (Bears) and New Haven (Nighthawks).
Nachbaur played his final seasons in Austria wit EC Graz
Wenatchee sits 3-5-1-0, sitting 10th in the Western Conference. Wenatchee is back in action tonight against the Kamloops Blazers.
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