DOUG YINGST  [PRESIDENT / GENERAL MANAGER]

HERSHEY BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst enters his 26th season with the organization in 2007-08 on the heels of a second consecutive Eastern Conference Championship. After forging a new NHL partnership with the Washington Capitals prior to 2005-06, the BEARS went out and won the club’s ninth Calder Cup championship that same year. As an encore under Yingst’s guidance last season, HERSHEY claimed the American Hockey League’s best overall point total in 2006-07, the most wins (51) in franchise history, and a second straight appearance in the Calder Cup Finals. Yingst won the 2005-06 James H. Hendy Award, presented to the most outstanding executive in the American Hockey League. He became only the fourth man in league history to win the award twice, having also claimed the honor back in 1999-2000.

Yingst has been HERSHEY’S President/GM since the 1998-99 season, and represents the club on the AHL’s Board of Governors. He serves the league on its Executive Committee as well as serving as Chairman of the AHL’s Competition and Marketing Committees. Yingst was first named HERSHEY’S General Manager in 1996-97, winning the Calder Cup in his first season with his new responsibilities. From 1991-96, he was the Assistant GM/Director of Hockey Operations for the team and from 1988-91 served as Assistant General Manager under the legendary Frank S. Mathers. Yingst began his long run in the HERSHEY organization as the sales and promotions director in 1982, and also won the AHL’s Ken McKenzie award in 1988, given annually by the AHL to the person judged to have don the most to promote his team.

One of Yingst’s greatest accomplishments in hockey came in February of 2000, when his HERSHEY Jr. BEARS hockey team won the 2000 Quebec Cup in Quebec City. Often compared to the Little League World Series in the United States, the Quebec Pee-Wee International Cup tournament brings more than 100 youth hockey teams to Quebec City every February. Yingst’s Jr. BEARS defeated the Florida Jr. Panthers 2-1 in overtime to win the 2000 Cup in front of better than 12,000 fans at Le Colisee in Quebec.

Yingst has been called into service from time to time as the BEARS assistant coach, most recently in 2003 during the Western Conference Quarterfinals. With head coach Mike Foligno hospitalized, Yingst teamed with interim head coach Paul Fixter to win Game 3 of the series 3-1 over the Chicago Wolves. It was also the first playoff victory for the BEARS in GIANT Center history.

A terrific all-around athlete, Yingst is a charter member of the Palmyra High School Sports Hall-of-Fame. He was inducted into the Central Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in November of 2000 for his outstanding athletic career both on and off the field. Yingst starred for Palmyra High in football, basketball and baseball, captaining all three sports and was a Big 33 nominee. He was named all-Lebanon County in each sport and played hockey at the same time. Yingst also played college football and continued playing hockey with the Jets in Johnstown. Yingst is an alumnus of Lebanon Valley College and is also an active member of USA Hockey, serving as a USA Hockey coaching director.

Yingst resides in Derry Township with his wife Sharon. They have four sons.

BOB WOODS  [Head Coach]
Named Assistant Coach of the HERSHEY BEARS on July 27, 2005.

Bob Woods became the 22nd head coach in team history on November 22nd when he was elevated on an interim basis. He became the first BEARS coach since Bill Barber in 1995 to take the coaching reins in mid-season.

Woods was named HERSHEY’S assistant coach on July 27, 2005 after coaching the Mississippi Sea Wolves for four seasons. The former Calder Cup champion as a player with the BEARS in 1997 didn’t take long to enjoy his first Calder Cup championship as a coach as HERSHEY claimed the team’s ninth Calder Cup title in 2005-06.

Named as the fourth head coach in Mississippi history on July 10, 2001, Woods compiled a record of 169-94-25 in the regular season and led the Sea Wolves to the playoffs all four years while he was behind the bench, including two trips to the conference finals.

Selected in the 10th round, (201st overall) in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Woods played 13 seasons, including 10 in the ECHL. He was an ECHL All-Star selection four times, and retired as the league’s all-time leader in games played with 559. He was named second team defenseman on the ECHL’s 15th anniversary team in 2003, and was also named second team defenseman on the Hockey News’ 50th anniversary All-ECHL team in 1997.

Woods spent three seasons as player/assistant coach with Mississippi from 1998-2001, playing for current BEARS head coach Bruce Boudreau during that time. He won the Kelly Cup in 1999, and scored 176 points in 209 games with the Sea Wolves, who retired his number eight on October 13, 2002. Playing under Bob Hartley for HERSHEY in 1996-97, Woods played in 16 playoff games en route to the team’s eighth Calder Cup championship. His return to Chocolatetown coincided with the club winning it’s ninth title on June 15, 2006.

A LeRoy, Saskatchewan native, Woods and his wife, Mary Sue, reside in Hershey. They have two sons, Brendan and Colin.

MARK FRENCH (Assistant Coach)
Named assistant coach of the HERSHEY BEARS on January 2, 2008.

Prior to being named to his current position, Mark French was the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Wichita Thunder (CHL) from 2005 to 2007. He was responsible for player recruitment and contract negotiations with players while with the Thunder, and managed the team’s operating budget. French also was the Assistant Coach of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies during the 2004-05 season when the Bullies posted a 42-21-9 record. He brings considerable experience at the collegiate level to the position as well, serving as the Head Coach of Wilfrid Laurier University (CIS) from 2002-2004. French also was the Assistant Coach/Assistant General Manager of the North Bay Centennials from 1999-2002 in the Canadian Hockey League.

French, his wife Kimberly and his daughter Ellie (1) live in South Hanover Township.