Hockey Operations

Rob Murray

Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations

Murray signed with the Oilers in June 2017, after spending the previous six seasons with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. The Toronto native has a long history of success as a player and coach. During his tenure in Anchorage, Murray led Alaska to three consecutive Brabham Cups with the best regular season record in the ECHL from 2011-12 to 2013-14. The Aces captured the Kelly Cup that third season.

The 51-year-old began his coaching career in 2003 as Assistant for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, where he stayed in that role for five seasons. Murray was promoted to Head Coach in Providence in 2008, and spent the next three seasons there before heading to Alaska to coach the Aces. In 503 career ECHL games coached, he has compiled a 262-179-62 record.

Murray was drafted in the third round by the Washington Capitals at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, and enjoyed a 16-year playing career. He played in over 1,000 AHL games throughout his career, and dressed in over 100 NHL games split between the Capitals, Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes. In January 2017, Murray was inducted into the American Hockey League’s Hall of Fame.

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Zac Desjardins

Assistant Coach

Desjardins hails from Denver and has been a hockey camp coordinator and instructor for some of the top junior hockey talent in the region. He was born in Calgary and has been an integral part of recruiting and developing junior hockey talent through the CCM Hockey Showcase and the USJDP Junior Prep Camp.

After playing junior hockey in the SJHL and the AWHL, Desjardins began his coaching career at Kent State University. In 2007, Desjardins earned his first junior coaching job as an assistant for the Cambellton (NB) Tigers of the Maritimes Junior Hockey League in Eastern Canada. He took an assistant coaching position in 2008 with the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League and was named the Head Coach of the San Antonio Diablos (WSHL) in 2009. Zac was then the Head Coach for the Tulsa Jr. Oilers for 2012-2014 before moving on to the Oklahoma City Blazers as the Associate Head Coach and Assistant General Manger during the 2014-2016 seasons in the WSHL.

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Steve Lintern

Athletic Trainer

Steve is in his fourth year as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Oilers, through the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. He has volunteered at the Dallas Stars Development Camp and worked at the Winnipeg Jets Preseason Camp during his stint in pro hockey. Steve previously worked for Advanced Orthopaedic Specialists in Fayetteville, Arkansas as the Head Athletic Trainer for all Club Sports at the University of Arkansas, while also working in different capacities for the Razorbacks football team from 2010-14.

He interned with the Cleveland Browns in 2008-09, and returned in 2012 as a Seasonal Intern Athletic Trainer. He has also worked with multiple Top-10 American Marathoners, Olympic Runners, World Class Triathletes, professional boxers, professional basketball players and All-American Swimmers in a private capacity. Steve double-majored in Athletic Training and Exercise Science in 2010 at Mount Union College, where he played football and was part of two National Championships. He completed his Masters Degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science at the University of Arkansas in 2011. Steve and his wife Anna are both Ironman Triathletes and currently live in Tulsa with their new son Lukas and Australian Heeler, Rinny.

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Garett Hoglund

Equipment Manager

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Nizam Rahim

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Nizam is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit coach that challenges athletes to forge elite fitness. In 2010, he began CrossFit 51 out of his garage with three friends wanting to become stronger. Since then, Nizam has grown out of his garage into a 11,500 square foot facility with almost 300 members, and has invested 10+ years as a performance coach helping everyone from kids to high-performance athletes get stronger every day. He currently lives in Tulsa with his wife Michelle (his best coach!), and two sons, Brody and Jace.