Glasgow Clan Appoint Zach Vinnell as Director of Hockey Operations

Club News

May 13, 2026

The Glasgow Clan is pleased to announce the appointment of Zach Vinnell as the organisation’s new Director of Hockey Operations ahead of the 2026/27 Elite League season.

Vinnell joins the organisation after spending a season as assistant coach with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL, following a season in the same role with the Coventry Blaze of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

The appointment also marks a return to familiar surroundings for Vinnell, who iced for the Clan during the 2023/24 season before later moving on to the Sheffield Steelers.

Alongside his playing and coaching experience, Vinnell also brings a strong educational background to the role, having earned a degree in Business Sport Management from Merrimack College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

As Director of Hockey Operations, Vinnell will oversee the day-to-day hockey operations of the Glasgow Clan Ice Hockey Club while working closely alongside Head Coach Mike Sirant in building the roster for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

The introduction of Vinnell forms part of a wider organisational ambition to modernise and strengthen the club’s recruitment structure and long-term hockey operations strategy.

Working collaboratively with Sirant and key partners, Vinnell will help develop a more detailed and analytical recruitment process designed to identify the right players and staff to drive the club forward.
Of his new appointment, Vinnell mentions his ambitions in joining the organisation:

Joining the Glasgow Clan as Director of Hockey Operations is something I have been really looking forward to. It is a role I am taking on with a lot of enthusiasm and passion. This is a club with genuine potential and one that, for various reasons, is just starting to get where it needs to be on and off the ice.

The club has shown a real desire to approach things differently going forward. It starts with building the right people and processes behind the scenes and setting the foundation for a new culture – one where everyone throughout the organisation is pulling in the same direction. Investing properly in how we identify and recruit players and planning more deliberately for the seasons ahead is a big part of that. My experiences give me a real understanding of what it takes to be competitive in the EIHL and I intend to use that from day one.

The Fans have supported this club through some frustrating times and they deserve to see a team that competes at the top every season. Everyone here moving forward is focused on making that happen. Let’s get this thing rolling Purple Army.

Russ Smith, CEO of the Glasgow Clan, welcomed the appointment as a significant step forward in the club’s long-term plans:

We are delighted to welcome Zach back to the Glasgow Clan in this new role. This appointment is a key part of the club’s ongoing restructuring of both our coaching and recruitment departments as we continue building a stronger foundation for long-term success.

Over the past year, we have taken a close look at all areas of our hockey operations and identified recruitment structure and processes as an area where we needed to improve. Bringing Zach into the organisation is an important step in modernising that approach and ensuring we are better positioned to identify, recruit and develop the right players and staff moving forward.

Zach brings a unique combination of playing experience, coaching knowledge, strong relationships within the game and an excellent educational background. He understands the Elite League, understands this club and shares our ambition to elevate standards across the organisation. We believe this is a key step towards delivering greater success on the ice for our fans, partners and everyone connected with the Clan.