Coaching Staff

Bob Ghode brings more than three decades of playing, coaching, and player development experience to Kings High School Hockey. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation as one of the area's most respected skills instructors, helping players at every level develop their hockey IQ, confidence, and love for the game.

As Hockey Director, Bob is committed to building a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement while providing every Kings player with the opportunity to reach their full potential on and off the ice.

Before joining Kings, Bob spent seven seasons coaching AAA hockey with Team Illinois, including at the Midget level, and served as the Hockey Director at Leafs Ice Centre. He also coached five seasons with the Leafs Hockey Club at the Bantam, Midget Minor, and Midget Major levels in both CSDHL and NIHL. In addition, Bob served as Team Illinois Girls U16 Coach and Director and has worked with numerous organizations across Chicagoland as a skills instructor, including Team Illinois, Leafs, Yellow Jackets, Chargers, Timberwolves, Express, Barrington, and Rampage.

Bob is also the owner of D2D Hockey Skills & Camps, where he has spent more than a decade helping players improve their skating, puck skills, hockey sense, and confidence through high-level instruction.

As a player, Bob competed for the Chicago Young Americans before advancing to the USHL with the Madison Capitols. He played collegiately at the University of Illinois at Chicago and continued his playing career professionally in the ECHL, UHL, and WPHL.

Bob believes great teams are built on trust, communication, mental toughness, and character. His coaching philosophy emphasizes skill development, accountability, and creating an environment where players can grow as athletes, teammates, and young adults.

The Kings are excited to welcome Bob and his family as he leads the next chapter of Kings High School Hockey.

Rob Matassa brings more than 14 years of competitive hockey coaching experience to Kings High School Hockey, with a strong focus on player development, preparation, and building teams rooted in accountability, discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

As Varsity Head Coach, Rob is committed to creating a competitive environment where players can strengthen their skills, deepen their understanding of the game, and develop the confidence and character to succeed both on and off the ice.

Before joining Kings, Rob spent four seasons coaching at Barrington High School from 2019–2022, serving as Head JV Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach. In those roles, he focused on developing players and preparing them to make the transition to varsity-level competition.

Rob has also served as a Bantam Head Coach with the Yellowjackets Hockey Club since 2013. During his time with the organization, he has led players through skill development, systems training, and competitive preparation while helping guide his teams to three Bantam championships in the past five seasons.

A lifelong hockey player and former goaltender, Rob began playing competitively at age 10 and continued through his high school years at Hoffman Estates. His experience on both sides of the bench has shaped a coaching philosophy centered on development, preparation, accountability, and respect for the game.

Rob believes successful hockey programs develop more than skilled players. His goal is to help Kings athletes become confident, disciplined, and well-rounded young men while building a team culture where players compete for one another and continually work to improve.