Don Granato Biography – Buffalo Sabres Head Coach

If you are an ice hockey enthusiast, you must recognize the name, Don Granato. He is an American ice hockey coach and former player who serves the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL as their head coach.

In case you are a new fan of the sport, you might be unfamiliar with the name. So, get to learn more about Don Granato, including his net worth, salary, family, wife, and more in this biography.

Is From A Hockey-Mad Family

The head coach was born on August 11, 1967, in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA, to his parents, Don Granato and Natalie Granato. Don Granato’s parents started their relationship at a Chicago Blackhawks game and went on to raise a family, that has a huge craze for hockey. He grew up with his five siblings that have played or coached at the top levels of ice hockey.

Tony Granato is Don’s oldest brother, and his other siblings are Christina Granato, Rob Granato, Joe Granato, and Catherine Michelle Granato, aka Cammi Granato. Tony has spent about twenty years playing and coaching in the NHL and is currently serving as the head coach of the hockey team at the University of Wisconsin.

 

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Likewise, Don’s younger sister, Cammi, is an Olympic gold medalist and the first woman to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. She is currently working as an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks organization.

Talking about his educational background, Granato attended a high school in Burnsville, Minnesota. He received a Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Also Read: About Scott Armstrong’s Biography

Don Granato Net Worth And Career

The Illinois native played with the Columbus Chill of the ECHL for two years and retired as a player. Then, he began his coaching stints and must have made a fortune from his current career as an ice hockey coach. Considerably, Don Granato’s net worth must be massive.

The 1967-born started his coaching career in 1993. He served the Green Bay Gamblers and Wisconsin Capitols of USHL for four years until 1997. He has also coached the Columbus Chill of ECHL, Peoria Rivermen of SPHL, and the Chicago Wolves and Worcester IceCats of AHL. After five seasons with the latter team, Granato was then promoted to an assistant coach with their NHL affiliate, the St. Louis Blues.

Don served the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as the head coach for three years, from 2013 to 2016. Then, he worked under his older brother, Tony, as an assistant coach for the Wisconsin Badgers men’s ice hockey team. Then, in 2019, he was hired as an assistant coach of the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. Eventually, he became the head coach for the team in 2021.

Now, let’s look at Don Granato’s coaching records with the Buffalo Sabres, as presented in the table below.

Season	Games Played	Points Percentage
2020-21	28	.375
2021-22	82	.457
Career	110	.436

Table Source: Hockey Reference

As per The Athletic, the annual salary of an NHL head coach varies from $1 million to $6 million. Similarly, the Sabres’ head coach must be earning a considerable amount within the range. So, likewise, Don Granato’s net worth must be a significant sum.

In a similar manner, Bruce Cassidy is another NHL coach with a notable fortune.

Is Don Granato Married?

Well, the Illinois native has not revealed much about his love life. He has yet to disclose whether he is married or not. Furthermore, he isn’t active on social media so, Don Granato’s partner remains a mystery.

The head coach might be in a relationship and might be keeping it private. There is another possibility that he is single and wants to focus on his coaching career for now. Nevertheless, let’s hope the Illinois-born sports person reveals about his love life soon.

On the contrary, the head coach’s older brother, Tony Granato, is married to Linda Granato. Likewise, his sister, Cammi, is married to the former NHL player, Ray Ferraro. Additionally, he is an uncle to his step-nephews, Landon Ferraro, Matt Ferraro, nephews Dominic Granato, and Mike Granato, and his nieces, Allie Granato and Mandi Granato, who all are ice hockey players.

Nevertheless, Don Granato must enjoy a comfortable life with his massive fortune. Sadly, in 2005, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then in 2019, his life was threatened with a severe case of pneumonia. Fortunately, he seems to be doing fine now. Regardless, we wish he leads a happy and healthy life ahead in the future.

Trivia And Facts

• Don Granato won the Kelly Cup in 2000 and the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award during the 2000-01 season.
• Prior to becoming the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, he was named the interim head coach of the team.

• Allie Granato Bruce Cassidy Cammi Granato Catherine Michelle Granato Christina Granato Coach Dominic Granato Don Granato Hockey Joe Granato Landon Ferraro Linda Granato Mandi Granato Matt Ferraro Mike Granato Natalie Granato Ray Ferraro Rob Granato Sports Celebrity Biography Tony Granato University of Wisconsin-Madison