It has been quite a year for George McPhee. In less than 12 months, he has had a consulting role with the New York Islanders, seen his son get drafted and then became the general manager of Las Vegas, the NHLs newest franchise. Now the real work starts as McPhee looks to build a competitive team from scratch -- just as soon as he sorts through the mountain of resumes on his desk. He spoke with ESPN.com recently over the phone from his office in Las Vegas.ESPN.com: How hectic have things been since you were announced as the teams GM on July 13?George McPhee: Were trying to get a little infrastructure here in place. When I do that, then Id like to build out the amateur scouting side of the organization. That would be the first priority, and then pro scouts and then were going to have other things.ESPN.com: So is being ready for that first amateur draft the top priority?GM: Weve got a heck of a lot of work to do. The expansion draft is just a couple of days before the entry draft. Were almost doing these things simultaneously. The only reason Im trying to get the amateur staff in place right now is because there is an amateur tournament being played next month. So I wanted to get the amateur [scouts] in place first and then work on the pros and hopefully by September weve got them all in place.ESPN.com: How many resumes have you received so far?GM: Ill bet that Ive had 600-700 texts, 300-400 emails, 60-70 phone calls. Its been unreal. Whats difficult is you let people know youll get back to them when we get organized. If they havent heard from you in a week, they start texting and emailing again.ESPN.com: Do you have any NHL Vegas memories of your own?GM: My first trip was with the Vancouver Canucks?[as director of hockey operations].?Pat Quinn just wanted the team to have a break on one of our trips. I was amazed then at the Strip. At all the activity and how beautiful the buildings were and the hotels. Once we got here, we didnt see the players for two days. As a staff, we had some great dinners. We actually saw Anne Murray in concert -- Canadians watching a Canadian. I think the best experience here was actually a family vacation. The league was having GM meetings at Lake Las Vegas so I came out earlier with my wife and my first two kids. It might have been one of the best vacations weve ever had. [My kids] were at that age where you could take them to different hotels with different themes, whether it was the tigers at one place or the aquariums at another. Taking them to a magician show or taking my daughter to Mama Mia. My kids had a blast.ESPN.com: Howd your daughter like Mama Mia?GM: She loved it. She was jumping up and down in her chair and my son was sleeping.ESPN.com: Your son, Graham, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round in June, just a couple of weeks before you got the Vegas job. You were there as a father but also as an adviser for the Islanders. How was that experience?GM: The McPhees have had a very nice summer. Going to the draft with one of your own is very unique. They still feel so young to you. Then having them drafted, youre really happy for them. Im really proud of him. The message was simple: You dont want that to be the closest you ever get to the NHL. Now you get to work.ESPN.com: Was it painful watching him have to wait to hear his name?GM: You dont want them to have to wait too long. I think mentally he was prepared for it but, like all kids, theyre nervous before the draft and they just want someone to like them. Its one of those experiences Ill never forget. As a father, the whole thing is kind of a whirlwind because I was working with the Islanders and was at their table for most of the draft before I went up and sat with my son. Then a few days later, we were home and my son is already off at Boston College and I walked by his room and there is an Oilers jersey hanging from his door. Holy cow. This kid that still feels like a young boy is an NHL draft pick.ESPN.com: Making the past month even more emotional, your old coach at Bowling Green, Ron Mason, passed away barely two weeks before the draft.GM: That was a stunner. That was a real setback for a lot of people. It was just so unexpected. I just told my wife, Ive got to go, Ive got to get there [to Lansing, Michigan, for the funeral]. And Im glad I did. Thats a big loss. He was an outstanding hockey man. What was really neat about him is while you were playing for him, you were his player and the day you graduated you were his friend. He liked to have a beer with you and he was a good man.ESPN.com: What is it youll be looking for in a coach in Las Vegas?GM: We havent even started [looking] and probably wont until the new year. There are lots of coaching changes in a season, so we want to take a look at what might be there later in the year. A coach has to obviously understand the Xs and Os, but more importantly he has to be someone the players really respect. Not only as a coach but as a person. You want a guy thats a lot of things: smart, approachable, unflappable, confident, hard-working, organized, all of those things. Good with the community, good with the media. Thats the sort of thing well be looking for.ESPN.com: Have other GMs contacted you about staying away from their players in the expansion draft?GM: I called [Islanders GM] Garth Snow to say, Thanks for everything, it was a great experience and you really helped me get the other GM job. He said, Just remember that during the expansion draft. Then he said, Now that youre back to being a manager, I cant wait to see you look old again. Clarence Weatherspoon Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Dana Barros Jersey . 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Now shell get a chance to lead them.The Fever hired Chatman as their new coach Friday, bringing in a WNBA veteran in hopes of continuing their annual visits to the postseason.I can remember when I first went to Chicago, quite frankly, I was trying to build a team to beat Indiana. What they had built was incredible and to see it from the inside out now is great, Chatman said. They have people who have been here for 14 years in this organization. It speaks volumes to whats going on here.Chatman will take over a team that has a rich history in the WNBA, winning a title in 2012 and reaching the playoffs for the past 12 years. Indiana was 17-17 this past year, losing in the first round. Coach Stephanie White left the Fever after the season to take over at Vanderbilt.My goal was to identify and hire someone who has extensive head coaching experience in the pro womens game and we are fortunate to bring Pokey to Indiana, said Kelly Krauskopf, the teams president and general manager. Her years of coaching elite level players, both in the WNBA and in Europe, bring us great experience and leadership. Her up-tempo philosophy on offense combined with her affinity for toughness on the defensive end fits our organization. I have watched her teams and admired how her players continuously improve from year to year.The 47-year-old Chatman was not retained by the Chicago Sky after this past season when she guided the team to an 18-16 record and an appearance in the WNBA playoff semifinals. She won 106 games in Chicago and led the team to its first-ever playoff appearance in 2013 and a trip to the WNBA Finals in 2014. Chicago made the playoffs in each of her last four seasons.I understand professional sports, Chatman said. II have a lot of pride in what we were able to accomplish in Chicago in six years.dddddddddddd I think the competitor in me is sad I didnt win a championship.Now she has a new job nearly three weeks later.Im elated and excited about it, Chatman said of the chance to lead Indiana. I didnt really think about the time frame and how quickly it was until I read it somewhere. Im excited about it.The Fever will have a different look not only on the sidelines, but also on the court as longtime star Tamika Catchings retired. Indiana still has a strong nucleus with Briann Janaury, Erlana Larkins, Tiffany Mitchell and Marissa Coleman.I dont have to reinvent the wheel here on either side of the basketball, Chatman said. There are areas we want to enhance, but if it aint broke were not going to try and fix it.Before taking over Chicago in 2011, Chatman spent 16 years at LSU, her alma mater. The Louisiana native was an assistant from 1992-2004 before becoming the head coach. She was 106-19 as the head of that program, including a 15-5 mark when she was the interim leader in 2004 when longtime coach Sue Gunter left the team because of a lung disease.Chatman will just be the coach in Indiana. She also was the general manager in Chicago. Having one job now is something that Chatman was happy about.I am looking forward to just being the coach, she said. I also am looking forward to learning from Kelly. I did have that role before. Its nice to have eyes and ears and a conversation with someone who had so much success from a learning standpoint. I welcome the opportunity to learn and just focus on the basketball half.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '