Vairo began his coaching career when a friend who organized the league he played in asked him to coach a midget-age team. Vairo later stated that he thought the term midget referred to dwarves instead of the minor ice hockey age group for 15-year-olds. He knew nothing of coaching at the time, and was simply instructed, "you go on the bench and organize them". Vairo went to the library the following day to get a copy of The Hockey Handbook to find out as much as he could. He later talked his way into attending a New York Rangers practice to learn more.
