Former ice hockey star Mike Greer has become the general manager of the San Jose Sharks.
Thus, he writes history as the first black general manager in the NHL.
I hope it opens the door for more, says Greer.
Johann Garbenlov has previously stated that he is suitable for the position of General Manager of San Jose Sharks. But the choice now fell instead to Greer, who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, three of which were in San Jose (2006-09).
He was succeeded by Doug Wilson, who resigned for health reasons earlier this year.
Ice hockey is often described as a white sport, and Greer is now the first black general manager even for him.
It means a lot, not something to underestimate. It means a huge responsibility and I hope it opens the door for more people, says Greer at a press conference.
Jarir hails from a family that had many successful sports leaders. His brother Chris is the general manager of the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, and his father, Bobby, held senior coaching and leadership positions at the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
Grier comes to the club, which is undergoing a renovation. The team whose talented superstar Eric Carlson has been has missed play-offs in the past three seasons.
Last week, the club’s management also decided to sack coach Bob Bogner and three assistant coaches, and according to The Athletic, Swede Rijkaard Grunborg is suitable as a replacement.
In addition to Eric Carlson, forward Jonathan Dahlin also plays in San Jose.