As an American who covers hockey in Poland, it should be no surprise that I have always enjoyed the stories of those who made a positive impact in a country that is different than their own. Rudolf Rohacek has done that. The Czechia-born coach had been a part of Polish hockey for almost the entire 21st century. He is mainly known for his time in Cracovia, where he has led the team since November of 2004.

A former player in Czechia during the 1990s, he played in AZ Havířov, HC Oceláři Třinec, and HC Vitkovice. All three organizations are familiar to Polish fans with the number of Poles playing throughout them. He would then attend Charles University, one of the oldest and largest universities in Czechia and Europe. There, he graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports with a specialization in hockey. After getting his class A coaching diploma, he would begin his new coaching career in Czechia. From 1995 to 1998, he led the clubs Karvina and Poruba Ostrava. In 1999, he made his first appearance in Poland. Over the next few years until 2002, he would bounce around and lead KTH Krynica, Polonia Bytom, and GKS Tychy. Rohacek made one last short return to Czechia to take over Sereza Ostrava before returning to lead KTH Krynica again. He also earned the Golden Coat of Arms of Krynica in 2004. 

Come November of the 2004-2005 season, Cracovia made a midseason coaching change and brought in Rohacek. Rohacek was a big-name coach and had already led KTH Krynica to a silver and bronze medal while also taking Bytom and Tychy to a bronze. The quest was if he could be the coach to get Cracovia over the hump. The city had not won a championship since 1949 and had only recently been promoted from the second league. The coach hiring can be considered one of the best moves in the history of Polish hockey. Over the next 19 years, Cracovia would win seven championships, three Polish Cups, three Polish Super Cups, and the 2022 Continental Cup. His Continental Cup win was the first time a Polish club ever won the tournament. That was not his only first as the leader of Polish clubs. Rohacek was behind the bench for Cracovia during the Champions Hockey League, the first time a Polish club participated. He would also lead the Polish national team for three seasons, from 2006 to 2008. More medals came his way then, with one silver medal and two bronze medals in the IIHF’s division one. 

When asked about the idea of leaving Poland in a 2023 Hokej.cz interview, Rohacek revealed had offers, but they were never enough to leave Poland.

“I negotiated with clubs from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, I even had the opportunity to go and train the Chinese national team. However, none of those offers seemed meaningful enough for me to leave Poland. In Krakow, we are still playing for something, there is ambition, which is what decided me to stay. In short, I built my career in Poland and I definitely do not regret it.”

Rudolf Rohacek ran Cracovia hockey like a well-oiled machine. His ways and or success invited criticism and controversy at times. That criticism especially started to get louder and louder in recent years. With changes to the sporting club, especially on the hockey side, after the passing of long-time owner Professor Janusz Filipiak, the writing was on the wall this offseason. The club announced on April 5th that he would not be re-signed as head coach, ending his 19-year run. It will be interesting to see what is next for him. The club is talking to the 61-year-old coach about an advisor position, and he will return for a goodbye ceremony before the beginning of the 2025 season. If that goodbye is it for his involvement in Polish hockey, he will firmly go down as a legend in the sport and one of the best coaches Poland has ever seen.

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