ECHL

Greensboro Gargoyles Name Scott Burt As Team's First Head Coach

Greensboro Gargoyles Name Scott Burt As Team's First Head Coach

Scott Burt has been named the first head coach of the expansion Greensboro Gargoyles, which will begin play in the ECHL in 2025-26.

Jun 4, 2025 by Chris Peters
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The Greenboro Gargoyles, which will begin play in the ECHL in 2025-26, took a significant step towards their inaugural season Wednesday when it was announced that Scott Burt will be the team’s first head coach.

Burt had spent the previous four seasons as the head coach of the Rapid City Rush, though had to take a leave of absence last season while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Gargoyles into their first season,” said Burt in a statement released by the team. “There is a lot of buzz about hockey in Greensboro and across North Carolina as a whole and we are excited to make an impact in the region both on and off the ice. I am looking forward to beginning the process of building a team that will bring a competitive brand of hockey that Gargoyles Nation will be proud of.” 

As a player, Burt won three Kelly Cups including two with the Idaho Steelheads and one in his final season with the Alaska Aces as the team’s captain.

Burt appeared in 586 ECHL games and 152 WCHL games before that. He also played in 104 Kelly Cup Playoffs games during his pro career. Burt racked up 1,067 penalty minutes during his ECHL career to go along with 356 points. Burt played for the Toledo Storm, Wheeling Nailers and Utah Grizzlies, in addition to his longer stints with the Steelheads and Aces.

The Mackenzie, B.C. native began his coaching career immediately after retiring as a player, going behind the bench for the Aces for two seasons before becoming an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL. 

He took a spin with the Idaho Steelheads, for whom was a fan-favorite as a player, serving as an assistant coach for one season before taking the reins at Rapid City.

The Rush declined to extend Burt’s contract after last season, which made him available to the Gargoyles. The team made the playoffs in Burt’s first year, but missed in each of the last three, while playing in the challenging Mountain Division.

Last season, Burt stepped aside from the team for 10 weeks after it was discovered he had a cancerous brain tumor. He received treatment at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and rang the bell signifying the end of his treatment in mid-February. The day after rining the bell, Burt returned to the Rush.

A popular figure around the ECHL, many of the league’s teams wore helmet decals adorned with Burt’s nickname “Burtie” as a show of support.

The Gargoyles are owned and operated by Zawyer Sports and Entertainment, but has also gained international attention as the hosts of the popular Spittin’ Chiclets podcast – Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonette, Keith Yandle and Mike Grinnell – are minority owners of the club. For Carolina Panthers player J.J. Jansen is also a part owner.

Greensboro will be making its return to the ECHL for the first time since 2004, but has a hockey history going back to the 1950s.

The Gargoyles will open their inaugural season at home October 18 against the Jacksonville Icemen.

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