Valley, a former Howard pupil and UW athlete, will do so, but not in the same arrangement.

Howardwas a volunteer assistant coach, a role that poses an NCAA ruleconflict with Valley's full-time job as president of a company thattests hockey players. So Valley will tutor Badgers goaltenders ShaneConnelly and Scott Gudmandson off campus, at the netminders' expense.

"Ithink both of them are really comfortable with what I do and how Iteach and the approach that I take with them," Valley said Thursday. "Ialways push them really hard as well. I think it's a very goodsituation that we have right now. And maybe one day it does changewhere I can step in as a volunteer coach based on my work situation.But as of today, this is what we could figure out with work, and it'sbeen directed by those two young goalies that we have today."

Howoften the UW goalies will meet with Valley hasn't been determined, butValley said he'd like it to be at least twice a week. That'll be one ofthe big changes from the past -- Howard typically worked with UWgoalies before every practice.

Coachinggoalies is nothing new to Valley, who has frequently appeared as aninstructor in Howard's camps. This summer, he was a consultant toformer UW goaltender Brian Elliott as well as Al Montoya, a formerMichigan athlete who plays in the Phoenix Coyotes' system; Kyle Jones,the Division III player of the year last season at St. Norbert; JordanPearce of Notre Dame; and Pat Nagle of Ferris State.

He said he also is doing work for the NHL's Nashville Predators.

"Coaching'salways been a passion for me," Valley said. "I really enjoy workingwith a lot of these elite athletes. Working with the Al Montoyas andBrian Elliotts of the world, and even Scott and Shane, is somethingreally fun because they're young, talented guys that can soak up a lotof what you're telling them. They can also learn from your experiencesas a goalie, whether they're good or bad."

Valleyplayed for the Badgers from 1996 to 1998 before signing a free-agentcontract with the Vancouver Canucks. A six-year career in theprofessional minor leagues and in Europe followed before he returned toMadison and finished his degree.

He servesas president of Next Testing, a Madison-based hockey testing service.NCAA rules forbid volunteer coaches from contacting or evaluatingprospective student-athletes, and Valley's company measures someplayers who fall into that category.

Connelly, however, sounded OK with paying for off-campus coaching.

"It's a small price to pay for getting good teaching, getting in shape and getting ourselves ready for the season," he said.

A bit of a connection and a comfort level has developed between Valley and his new students.

"He'sbeen here. It's nice to have a goalie who's played here and understandswhat's going on," Connelly said. "I can talk to him about all sorts ofthings other than hockey, too, but it's nice to know that he's learnedfrom Howie, he's been through what I was through. He's up and coming,got a lot of energy. Practices are at a high tempo."

WithValley immersed in what Howard has taught Connelly, a senior, andGudmandson, a sophomore, the transition should be natural, Valley said.The technique he teaches is similar to that of Howard, whom Valley saidhe has "a tremendous amount of respect for."