Team Homan adds Rich Hart as part time coach. Can he capture the magic of Earle Morris?

Just eight months ago, Rich Hart was a retired curler, spending the previous three seasons away from the competitive game, other than jumping into the chair for some colour commentary for Sportsnet.

Now he's busier, perhaps, than ever before. The announcement that the 46 year old Toronto native is joining Team Homan as a coach means he'll be busy with the game even when he's not throwing third stones for Glenn Howard.

Hart, who jumped back into pro level curling this season when he rejoined Team Howard, has some coaching experience, having tutored his sons over the last few years. Not to mention all the experience he's had as a player, from winning a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano (with Mike Harris at skip), to all those Ontario championships he's won with Howard, as well as a Brier and World Championship.

Team Homan has been without a coach so far this year, after their beloved mentor, Earle Morris, left at the end of last season. Originally, he'd decided to step back from the game for a while, but he's now coaching his son, John, in Alberta.

Team Homan had a close relationship with Earle Morris. That is particularly true of the skip, who'd been coached by him since the age of 13. With Morris as coach, Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk and Lisa Weagle won both the 2013 and 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The question now is: Can Homan's team (which has Joanne Courtney aboard to replace Kreviazuk) continue their Scotties run with Hart at the coach's table?

Hart has long been known as a very good strategist, one of the top minds in the game. Although he lacks coaching experience at the top levels (compared with Morris, at least), his role with Team Homan seems a good fit. Easy going and fun-loving, his personality should blend well with the Homan rink. His situational advice during time-outs at critical junctures of the game will be a boon, as will his advice on reading ice and detecting and correcting delivery flaws that can creep in from time to time during a week long event.

Although Hart's official designation with Team Homan is as Scotties coach - where he'll join the defending Canadian champions in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - don't be surprised if the relationship reaches beyond that event, especially when Hart and Team Homan cross paths, as they will at this week's Grand Slam event, the Canadian Open.

Hart and Howard will be staring down 15 of the best men's teams in the world and trying to burst through with their first event win of the season. In between their games, Hart might be able to coach up the Homan side, who will be facing 15 of the best women's teams and attempting to put their Canada Cup final loss to Val Sweeting behind them.