Coaches
Tony Weil- Head Coach
Tony Weil is well known in the hockey community. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Des Moines Capitals. He grew up in Apple Valley, MN where he got his start playing hockey. His family moved to Des Moines when Tony was in 8th grade. He continued playing hockey for the Des Moines Youth Hockey League and played for the Des Moines Capitals. After high school Tony played for the Drake University's Club Hockey Team and played baseball at Grandview. He received his degree in Human Services & Psychology from Grandview. One of Tony's favorite hockey experiences was stepping in to play a few games for the El Paso Buzzards from the Central Hockey League.
Tony has years of coaching experience within the DMYHA. He started in 2004 with the Bantam B team and has coached every level of youth hockey since. This past season Tony served as the Head Coach of the Bantam Red team. In addition to Tony’s role as Head Coach of the Des Moines Capitals, he is the DMHYA Skills Director. He will continue in this role.
Tony and his wife Georgia have two daughters together, Bernie & Sloan. Tony is also a proud stepfather to Vincent Leaf, who played one year for the Capitals and is currently playing for Bucs AAA.
James Curren- Assistant Coach
James was born in West Des Moines, but moved to Columbus, Ohio, at a young age. He was introduced to hockey when his Dad took him to Columbus Blue Jackets games and he fell in love. He began playing hockey at the age of 6. Later that year his family moved back to West Des Moines, where he continued playing hockey. During his youth, James played at the AA travel hockey level from squirts to bantams, played for the Jr. Bucs and kept busy in the summer with more travel hockey. After playing 1 year for the Des Moines Oak Leafs James joined the local AAA program, where he played for 2 years. From there James played 3 seasons of junior hockey for 3 teams; the North Iowa Bulls, Breezy Point North Stars and the Minnesota Moose. He finished up his playing career at Northland College where he played two seasons of NCAA D3 hockey.
James works at Excela Technologies and keeps busy officiating hockey games, coaching for the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association. This will be James’ first year as an Assistant Coach for the Capitals.
Cooper Cook- Goalie Coach
Cooper grew up in Des Moines and played two seasons for the Des Moines Capitals from 2008-2010. He went on to play one season for Omaha AAA U16 (NAPHL), two seasons for the Richmond General (MJHL), one season for the Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL) and one season for the University of Oklahoma (ACHA D1). The 2023-2024 season will be Cooper’s third season as the Des Moines Capitals Goalie Coach.
Cooper works in new construction for Aspen Aire. In his free time, Cooper enjoys golfing, watching sprint car racing, and cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners and the Iowa State Cyclones.