In 1993, as coach Claude Noel left the Dayton Bombers to accept an assistant's position at a higher minor-league level, the franchise owner made what proved to be a prescient observation.

"He told me, 'I don't see you as an assistant coach,'" said Noel, the Blue Jackets' interim coach.

Noel, 54, has shared that sentiment for some time. He said yesterday he sees his future as a head coach - whether it's with the Blue Jackets or somewhere else in the hockey world.

"For me to have joy in my life, I have to be a head coach," Noel said. "I have to teach and that's when I have peace of mind. I fight for peace of mind every day. As an assistant, I don't have as much satisfaction."

Noel, who replaced Ken Hitchcock on Feb.3, hopes the Blue Jackets will remove the interim tag at season's end. He carried a 5-3-2 record into a game last night against St. Louis.

If he cannot land the Jackets' job or another coaching post in the NHL, Noel said he would consider returning to the minor leagues or the junior ranks. He led the Milwaukee Admirals, the American Hockey League affiliate of Nashville, to the Calder Cup final twice, winning the title in 2004.

"I have done it and it's time to move past it," Noel said of being an assistant coach at the minor-league and NHL levels. "I just like the job way better as the head guy, it's more gratifying. I've had some success at it (in the minors). It's more hands-on. You are the guy. When you are an assistant, you can't completely do it."

Noel would seem like a long shot to become the permanent coach, but he has done a credible job under trying circumstances.

The team's best youngsters - Jake Voracek, Derick Brassard and Steve Mason - are playing better in recent weeks.

Noel has promoted an up-tempo game and incorporated defensemen into the offensive attack. He also has given energy forwards like Derek Dorsett and Jared Boll expanded roles, in part out of necessity because of injuries to Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius and management's decision to deal Raffi Torres and Fredrik Modin at the trade deadline March3.

In 2007, Noel joined the Blue Jackets staff as an assistant, reuniting with Hitchcock, the mentor who gave him a chance to coach in the Dallas Stars organization. Noel accepted the promotion, he said, to learn the workings of the league in hopes of becoming an NHL coach. He never dreamed it would come at his friend's expense.

In the fall, Noel admitted he was "torn" about signing a contract extension.

"I was just longing to be a head guy again," he said.

Slap shots

Noel said Nash (lower body) and Huselius (upper body) could play Monday against Edmonton. Goaltender Mathieu Garon is 5-0-3 with a 1.68 goals-against average in eight starts in Nationwide Arena this season.

treed@dispatch.com