Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
(Image Credit: Facebook/Nipawin Hawks)
Staying Home

Kozun signs 2-year extension with Hawks

Apr 30, 2026 | 4:34 PM

The Nipawin Hawks have locked down their bench boss for an additional two years.

Head Coach and General Manager Tad Kozun has signed a two-year contract extension with the organization.

“I’m definitely really excited to be able to continue on what we’ve done here. It hasn’t been easy sledding, obviously; we went through a rebuild a couple of years ago, where we had a tough year, but when you look back at last year and how far the guys have come, you definitely get excited. Now we’re just looking to continue to build, and I’m just definitely excited to get to continue on and be the coach here. It’s nice when you’ve got your family here, and everything, and it’s home for you, so it’s definitely an exciting time,” Kozun told northeastNOW.

“You definitely don’t want to take an opportunity like this for granted. Being a hometown guy who played here and grew up in this organization, it definitely means more to me personally, and you want to make sure that you succeed here. The ultimate goal you have is to continue to push and get better every year, and that just doesn’t go for the players; it’s me as well. The way you coach, and how you can improve things to make this a top-tier program where people want to come to as well, it’s all important.”

Kozun first got involved with the Hawks as a player, suiting up for the 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14 seasons.

After advancing to the NCAA and playing for multiple professional teams in the ECHL, Kozun returned to Nipawin as an assistant coach in the 2021/22 campaign, before later taking over as the interim head coach and GM. He has led the club in that capacity in a permanent role ever since.

“The organization is proud to have re-signed a leader with deep connections to the community and the Hawks program for another two-year term as the team continues to build toward sustained success… coach Kozun has been a huge part of the growth of our program, and we’re fired up to have him leading the Hawks moving forward,” said the team in a press release.

“It’s awesome to be in this type of situation where you’ve got the community behind you and pulling for you. We got to see that being back in the playoffs this year with the support we got all season, this town means a lot, and we’re definitely looking forward to continuing to build,” added Kozun.

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8