Shot Left Role Coach Career end 1977 Name Jim Wiley Career start 1972 | Playing career Weight 88 kg NHL Draft Undrafted Height 1.88 m Position Centerman | |
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Born April 28, 1950 (age 73)
Sault Ste. Marie, ON, CAN ( 1950-04-28 ) Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Vancouver Canucks Education Lake Superior State University | ||
James Thomas Wiley (born April 28, 1950) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey center who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League between 1972 and 1977. He would later serve as head coach of the San Jose Sharks during the 1995–96 NHL season.
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Playing career
Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Wiley signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1972 following a fine collegiate career at Lake Superior State University, becoming the first Lakers alum to play in the NHL. He would spend the majority of the next two seasons with the Hershey Bears, Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, although he did appear in 26 games for the Penguins over that stretch, recording 4 assists.
Wiley was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1974 intra-league draft, but continued to find himself toiling in minor pro. He would earn a 2-game callup in 1975–76, and would have his longest NHL stint in 1976–77, when he recorded 4 goals and 10 points in 34 games for the Canucks. He would retire in 1980 without seeing any further NHL action.
Wiley appeared in 62 NHL games, recording 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points along with 8 penalty minutes.
Other leagues
Following his retirement, Wiley would move into coaching. He was the long-time coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League before breaking into the pro ranks in 1993 as head coach of the Kansas City Blades, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.
When the Sharks fired head coach Kevin Constantine after a dismal 3–18–4 start, Wiley was promoted to the head coaching position with the NHL club. While his 17–37–3 record was somewhat of an improvement over their start, it was not enough for Wiley to keep his job. Following the season, he was reassigned back to the Sharks' top farm team, now the Kentucky Thoroughblades, where he served until 1998.
Since leaving the Sharks organization, Wiley made stops in the East Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League, and United Hockey League.