Barrie Colts hand reins to league’s youngest head coach in OHL

The Barrie Colts announced Tuesday that Dylan Smoskowitz will assume the role of Head Coach for the Barrie Colts effective immediately.

Marty Williamson started his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) coaching career in Barrie in 2004. He stayed with the club until 2011 then returned after a stint with Niagara.

For the past several years, he has acted as both coach and general manager, and with 603 career wins, he says the time is right for him to focus on the general manager duties.

“It’s a big job and you know with the landscape right now this is what our organization needs, so I needed to make a decision on which one to give up, you know, at 62 years-old sometimes those bus rides and everything take a toll on you. I think this is the right path for everybody,” shared Williamson.

With Marty stepping down from the bench, former Colt and current assistant coach Dylan Smoskowitz moves up to the top job.

“Learning from the late and great Dale Hawerchuk and learning from Marty Williamson, learning what it takes to be a survivor in this league as a player, learning what it takes to be a coach in this league and be a mentor to the younger guys... and now as I step into this head coaching role I have a lot to be grateful for,” Dylan Smoskowitz shared with CTV News on Tuesday.

After his playing career, Smoskowitz joined the team as an assistant coach in 2021. He says he hopes to build on the teams success from last season.

“I’m a players coach and I’m a culture coach. It’s not about the x’s and o’s so to speak for me it’s about everyone being on the same page. It’s about everyone understanding what the goal and the task at hand is and everyone pulling in the same direction,” Smoskowitz continued.

The new head coach Smoskowitz was drafted by the Colts in 2009 in the 10th round 188th overall. At 32, Smoskowitz is currently the youngest head coach in the OHL.