Joe Ferras, Head Coach

Joe Ferras has more than a decade of coaching experience, including 8 years as a head coach in the Central Hockey League.

Heading into the 2011-12 campaign, Ferras is 7th all-time in CHL games coached (510) and wins (265). He is 27 wins from tying Garry Unger for sixth all-time in wins and needs 58 games to tie Unger for sixth all time in games coached. Ferras has also coached in 70 playoff games and has posted an overall record of 266-201-43 for a .564 winning percentage.

The Brantford, Ontario native is coming off of his second-consecutive 40-win season in 2010-11, guiding the Rush to a second-straight Conference Finals appearance. The veteran skipper also continued to propel players to higher levels, facilitating numerous call-ups to the American Hockey League (AHL).

In the 2009-10 regular season, Ferras guided the Rush to a personal and franchise best 43 wins, earning a Northern Conference regular season title. The conference title and playoff berth were both firsts for the young franchise. For his efforts, Ferras was named CHL Coach of the Year. In the postseason, Ferras guided the Rush through three rounds and an eventual Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Championship, becoming the fourth team in league history to win the championship in only its second season.

After beginning his head coaching career with the Amarillo Rattlers during the 2001-02 season, Ferras helped to rebuild Amarillo Professional Hockey and make it one of the most successful small-market programs in the CHL. Ferras took over the newly named Amarillo Gorillas and in four consecutive years guided them to the playoffs. Only one other coach in CHL history (Terry Ruskowski - Laredo Bucks) has this accomplishment on his resume. Ferras coached Amarillo in 38 playoff contests including two trips to the CHL semi-finals before losing to the Laredo Bucks in each of those series. Ferras is the winningest coach in Amarillo history including four consecutive 30-win seasons, most home wins, and most road victories.

In 2003-2004, Ferras was the recipient of the Rick Kozuback Award for perseverance and commitment to the game, sport, and business of hockey. In that same year, Ferras was runner-up for the Coach of the Year Award.

Following the success Ferras enjoyed coaching in Amarillo, he signed with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League in the summer of 2006 to be an Assistant Coach with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. While at Bridgeport, Ferras was responsible for working with the forwards and special teams as well as playing a key role in the development of top Islanders’ prospects.

After a season in the AHL, Ferras was hired to start the expansion Rapid City Rush as Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations. In the first season behind the bench in Rapid City, Ferras’ squad accumulated 22 wins and 53 points, good enough for 3rd in the Northwest Division. Ferras also helped send several players to AHL camps which included the franchise’s first call-ups to the AHL.

Prior to coaching, Joe Ferras enjoyed an excellent playing career that was highlighted by four years at Plattsburgh State University in which he shattered virtually every scoring record including the top scorer in NCAA history that still stands today. Ferras was a two-time All-American and his number was retired by Plattsburgh in 2002.

In 1988, Ferras began his professional hockey career by signing a free-agent contract with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings (Affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings) that went on to win the Calder Cup Championship in 1991. In his 13 years as a professional, Ferras played several years in the top leagues in Europe including Italy and England and also played in the ECHL with Richmond Renegades and Winston-Salem Thunderbirds.

In 1999-2000, as a member of the New Mexico Scorpions of the Western Professional Hockey League, Ferras’ playing career came to an end when he suffered a career-ending eye injury. At the time of the injury, he was leading the Western Professional Hockey League in scoring and was named to the first team All-Star as the starting center. As Ferras’ playing days came to a sudden end, it was the beginning of a new era in his career where he was able to take his vast experience, knowledge of the game, and strong work ethic and implement these assets into the successful coach he is today.

Mark DeSantis, Assistant Coach

Mark DeSantis enters his third season as an Assistant Coach for the Rush after helping guide the team to consecutive 40-win campaigns. The former defenseman played a key role in Rapid City’s 2009-10 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Championship, leading the Rush defensive corps alongside Head Coach Joe Ferras. He has also been responsible for sending numerous Rush players to higher leagues both in the US and overseas.

DeSantis’ career spanned 16 years, including 6 seasons in the CHL and in total, played in 1,001 regular-season games and accumulated 600 regular-season points.

The Brampton, Ontario native played 4 years for the Cornwall/Newmarket Royals franchise before making his pro debut with the San Diego Gulls of the IHL in 1993-94. Prior to that season, DeSantis signed with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) expansion Anaheim Mighty Ducks as a free agent. In his 16 years, DeSantis made stops in the AHL, IHL, WPHL/CHL, ECHL and EIHL. Along the way, he also gathered a number of awards including defenseman of the year in 2000-01 while with the New Mexico Scorpions and selected to the CHL All-Star team 5 times.

DeSantis served as a player-assistant for 5 years, four with the Amarillo Gorillas and during the expansion season with the Rush. Rapid City was also where he was named the first Captain in franchise history and for the 6th time overall in his career. All of DeSantis’ 5 seasons as player-assistant were with Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras and he now enters his third year alongside Ferras behind the bench.

Romeo Vivit, Head Equipment Manager

Romeo Vivit enters into his third season with the Rapid City Rush as the Head Equipment Manager after being blessed with a Championship in his first season (2009-2010) and having the honor of being selected by his peers as the “Gunnar Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year” in only his second season (2010-2011). Since he was given the award, he is expected to work as the Equipment Manager for the CHL All-Stars at the 2012 CHL All-Star Game in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Vivit is responsible for the day-to-day hockey operations of sharpening skates, setting up dressing rooms, ordering and maintaining gear, laundering and sewing uniforms/apparel, and controlling inventory both at home and on the road.

Originally from Park Ridge, Illinois, Vivit earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from National American University in Rapid City. He considers Rapid City to be his home after having lived there for more than 12 years.

When time permits, Vivit enjoys playing hockey and coaching as well as, developing the life skills of the youth within the Rapid City Community. He also enjoys spending time with his family, fitness training, playing guitar, golfing, and gourmet cooking.