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Spring of 2000In the Spring of 2000, the UNB Athletics Department was looking for a new Head Coach. Current Head Coach, Tom Coolen, announced his departure on May 9th - he had accepted the Head Coaching position of the Moncton Wildcats, of the QMJHL and would not be returning to UNB in the fall. This announcement came on the heels of UNB's Silver medal finish at the University Cup in Saskatoon that March - losing to Alberta in overtime.
Tom had only finished his second season with UNB, having been hired to replace departing Head Coach Mike Kelly who parlayed his CIS Gold Medal win in 1998 into becoming the Head Coach & General Manager of the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Gardiner had applied in 1998 and was one of the candidates, along with Tom, to replace Coach Kelly. UNB selected Tom as he had previous AUS Head Coaching experience (8-years at Acadia and a National Title in 1993 as well as 2 years as an Assistant coach at UNB in the 80's).
(L-R) - Tom Coolen, Réal Paiement, Mike Kelly and Gardiner Gardiner was coaching in the Manitoba Junior League (MJHL) for the OCN Blizzard in 1998. He won an MJHL title the following season (1998-99) with OCN. Over that summer, he returned to the Flin Flon Bomber's program, of the Saskatchewan Junior League (SJHL). He had been an Assistant Coach there 10-years earlier.
Gardiner lead the OCN Blizzards for three seasons culminating in a MJHL title in 1999 and his second MJHL Coach of the Year award (he had also won in 1997). It was during his tenure at OCN that Gardiner would first apply to UNB (1998). He returned to Flin Flon in the summer of 1999 to be the Director of Hockey Operations and while there, he applied to UNB for the second time (2000). 
Coaching Search - 2000The UNB job posting was released on May 31st with a June 16th deadline. Gardiner wasn't the only candidate interviewed for the Head Coaching position - former UNB Captain and standout, Murray Nystrom, was also a candidate. Murray had finished his second season as the Head Coach of the OUA's Brock University Badgers. His record over those two years was 23-24-5. In early July, UNB would announce Murray as their new Head Coach. No sooner had it been announced and a Press Release published that he changed is mind and announced the following day that he would be staying at Brock. He thanked and apologised to UNB Athletics, alumni & fans, but he felt staying at Brock was overall a better fit for his young family.
Murry's UNB Team Picture in 1989-90 & his profile picture for Univ. of Lethbridge Hockey 2018-19.
Gardiner SelectedUNB reviewed their remaining candidates and announced on July 10th that Gardiner would be the new Head Coach that fall, replacing Murray. It took three tries, but Gardiner was now coaching at UNB. His first season ended with a 13-10-5 record (.464) and a second round loss to St. FX in the AUS Semi-finals. It's the only season, out of his 24 at UNB, that is below 500. His last season, in 2023-24, would be perfect (43-0).RetirementOn May 14th, 2024, the UNB Athletics Department announced that Gardiner would be retiring effective immediately. A press conference was held that night in the Colter Room at the Aitken University Centre for friends, fans and family where Gardiner spoke poetic of his success and special moments at UNB.
(L) Dave Morell, UNB President Dr. Paul Mazerolle, Gardiner, and REDS Executive Director John Richard - (PHOTO: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics) (R) Taylor, Gardiner and Robert Irving. (PHOTO: Daniel St. Louis) New OpportuntyThe following day, May 15th, 2024, the Moncton Wildcats announced Gardiner would be their new head coach for the 2024-25 season, replacing 4-year veteran Dan Lacroix (112-123 | .477). Part of the announcement was the appointment of Gardiner's son, Taylor (also a UNB alumnus), as the team's new General Manager & Director of Hockey Operations. In their first season with Moncton, they achieved a record of 53-9-2 (new team record), were ranked #1 in the CHL for most of the season and won the QMHJL league championship - Gilles-Courteau Trophy. They would achieve a 1-1-1 record at the Memorial cup and lose to the eventual champion London Knights in the Semi-Finals.
Coaching AccomplishmentsWhile at UNB, Gardiner accomplished:
While at UNB, he garnered recognition as a coaching leader:
As UNB's Head coach and driving force behind the program, he was instrumental in:
Gardiner was recongnized as a 'leader' on campus and in the community.
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