List of Pittsburgh Penguins head coaches explained

The Pittsburgh Penguins are an American professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise was established as one of six new franchises of the 1967 NHL expansion.^[1] Since their foundation, the Penguins had played their home games at the Civic Arena, which was replaced by the Consol Energy Center in 2010.^[2] The franchise is co-owned by Ronald Burkle and Mario Lemieux—the only player/owner in the NHL's modern era.^[3] According to Forbes, the Penguins were the 11th most valuable NHL franchise, at US$222 million, in 2009.^[4]

There have been 22 head coaches for the Penguins franchise.^[5] The franchise's first head coach was Red Sullivan, former New York Rangers captain and coach.^[6] Sullivan was replaced by future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Red Kelly, after two seasons. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player,^[7] and head coaches Craig Patrick, Bob Johnson, Scotty Bowman, and Herb Brooks were inducted as builders.^[8] Eddie Johnston—who along with Patrick and Ken Schinkel served two tenures as head coach—leads Penguins' coaches in games coached. Bob Johnson led the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup victory in 1991, but was forced to retire due to health problems after the season—he died later that year.^[9] Bowman succeeded Johnson and coached the team to its second Stanley Cup victory the following season. Michel Therrien won the Prince of Wales Trophy, as Eastern Conference champion, during the 2007–08 season.^[10] Therrien was replaced the following season by Dan Bylsma.^[11] Bylsma would lead the Penguins to their third Stanley Cup championship that same season. Bylsma was fired after the 2013-14 season and replaced by Mike Johnston.^[12] Johnston was fired during the 2015-16 season and replaced by Michael (Mike) Barry Sullivan.^[13] Sullivan led the Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup victory that season and also their fifth Stanley cup victory in the following season in 2016-17

Key

	Number of coaches
Term	Years spent as coach
Games	Games coached
W	Wins
L	Losses
T	Ties
OTL	Overtime/shootout losses
Win%	Winning percentage
PG	Playoff games coached
PW	Playoff wins
PL	Playoff losses
PWin%	Playoff winning percentage
	Spent entire NHL head coaching career with the Penguins
or †	Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame († denotes induction as a builder, * denotes induction as a player)

Coaches

Note: Statistics are updated through the completion of the 2023–24 season.

	Name	Term	Games	W	L	T	OTL	Win%	PG	PW	PL	PWin%	Achievements	Ref
1			150	47	79	24		.393						^[14]
2			274	90	132	52		.423	14			.429		^[15]
3			203	83	92	28		.478						^[16]
4			151	66	61	24		.517				.555		^[17]
5			240	91	105	44		.471	12			.333		^[18]
6			516	232	224	60		.508	46	22	24	.478		^[19]
7			80	16	58			.232						^[20]
8			240	88	127	25		.419						^[21]
9			80	36	35			.506						^[22]
10			106	50	47			.514	11			.636		^[23]
11			74	29	36			.453				.200		^[24]
12			80	41	33			.550	24	16		.667	Stanley Cup champions (1991)	^[25]
13			164	95	53	16		.628	33	23	10	.696	Presidents' Trophy (1993) Stanley Cup champions (1992)	^[26]
14			189	86	67	35		.511	19		11	.421		^[27]
15			57	29	24			.570	11			.545		^[28]
16			86	42	32			.558	18			.500		^[29]
17			160	55	81	14	10	.419						^[30]
18			113	31	64	14		.274						^[31]
19			272	135	105		32	.502	25	15	10	.600	Prince of Wales Trophy (2008)	^[32]
20			401	252	117		32	.670	78	43	35	.551	Stanley Cup champions (2009) Jack Adams Award (2011)	^[33] ^[34]
21			110	58	37		15	.595	5	1	4	.200		^[35] ^[36]
22		2015–present	671	375	219		77	.616	82	44	38	.537	Stanley Cup champions (2016, 2017)	^[37]

Notes and references

• Beginning with the 2005–06 season, the NHL instituted a shootout for regular season games that remained tied after a five-minute overtime period, which prevented ties.^[38]
• Head coaches with multiple terms are counted once; figures are career totals. For a specific order of the coaches see the Footnotes section.
• Each year is linked to an article about that particular NHL season.
• Gene Ubriaco served as the Penguins' head coach to begin the 1989–90 season; the team began with a 10–14–2 record.^[39] On December 5, 1989, Craig Patrick replaced Ubriaco as an interim head coach.^[5] Under Patrick, the team went 22–26–6 and did not qualify for the playoffs.^[39]
• After starting the 1996–97 season with a record of 31–26–5,^[40] the Penguins went 1–8 in nine consecutive games in February and March 1997.^[41] Coach Eddie Johnston was replaced by Craig Patrick, under whom the team finished the season 7–10–3 and lost in the first round of the playoffs four games to one.^[40]
• Michel Therrien coached the Penguins to a 27–25–5 record to start the 2008–09 season, at which point he was replaced by Dan Bylsma.^[11]
• Mike Johnston coached the Penguins to a 15–10–3 record to start the 2015–16 season, at which point he was replaced by Mike Sullivan.^[36]

General

• Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins coaches . 2008-10-09 . General Managers & Coaches . PittsburghPenguins.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090608115435/http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_managers . 2009-06-08 .
• Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins. 2009-02-26. History. CBS Sports. 2016-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915225819/http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/history/PIT. dead.

Notes

Notes and References

1. Book: Cooper, Bruce C.. Professional Sports Team Histories: Hockey . Michael L. LaBlanc. 1994. Gale Research Inc. 322. Detroit, Michigan. 978-0-8103-8862-8.
2. Web site: Consol Energy Center . 6 January 2009 . PittsburghPenguins.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20080822023358/http://penguins.nhl.com/arena/index.htm . 22 August 2008 . dead .
3. Web site: Front Office. 6 January 2009. Executive Staff. PittsburghPenguins.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081217092640/http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tea_office. 17 December 2008.
4. NHL Team Valuations . https://web.archive.org/web/20091114060632/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/31/hockey-values-09_NHL-Team-Valuations_Rank.html . dead . November 14, 2009 . Forbes.com . 2009-11-11 . 2010-06-12.
5. Web site: General Managers and Coaches . 30 December 2008 . Coaches . PittsburghPenguins.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090608115435/http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_managers . 8 June 2009 .
6. Book: O'Brien, Jim. Penguin Profiles. 1994. James P. O'Brien - Publishing. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 0-916114-16-3. 242–44.
7. Web site: Red Kelly Playing Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2013-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928180721/http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kellyre01.html. live.
8. Web site: Builders. 2008-12-27. Hockey Hall of Fame. The Legends. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090528120538/http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMembersByYear.jsp?type=Builder. 2009-05-28.
9. Web site: Bob Johnson Biography. 30 December 2008. The Legends. Hockey Hall of Fame. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040529150900/http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=B199202#photo. 29 May 2004.
10. News: Eastern Finals: Game Five recap . Associated Press . Pittsburgh Penguins . September 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080521040039/http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?gameNumber=315&gameType=3&page=Recap&season=20072008&service=page . May 21, 2008 .
11. News: Dave. Molinari. Therrien fired, Blysma in as Penguins' interim head coach. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 15 February 2009. 15 February 2009. 17 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090217233702/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09046/949415-100.stm. live.
12. Web site: Penguins pluck WHL's Johnston to be coach. ESPN.com. 2016-06-13. 2016-06-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20160617114814/http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/11132465/pittsburgh-penguins-hire-mike-johnston-coach. live.
13. Web site: Mike Sullivan Named Head Coach of Pittsburgh Penguins. penguins.nhl.com. 2016-06-13. 2015-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20151215004716/http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=792317. live.
14. Web site: Red Sullivan Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20081203195633/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/sullire01c.html. live.
15. Web site: Red Kelly Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080830010233/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/kellyre01c.html. live.
16. Web site: Ken Schinkel Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20081203194624/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/schinke01c.html. live.
17. Web site: Marc Boileau Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-07-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724100309/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/boilema01c.html. live.
18. Web site: Johnny Wilson Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2017-07-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20170704194735/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/wilsojo01c.html. live.
19. Web site: Eddie Johnston Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20080904220407/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/johnsed01c.html. live.
20. Web site: Lou Angotti Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20080807165614/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/angotlo01c.html. live.
21. Web site: Bob Berry Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-07-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20080720065756/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/berrybo01c.html. live.
22. Web site: Pierre Creamer Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20080807170244/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/creampi99c.html. live.
23. Web site: Gene Ubriaco Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20080829213243/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/ubriage01c.html. live.
24. Web site: Craig Patrick Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2018-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062250/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/patricr01c.html. live.
25. Web site: Bob Johnson Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2011-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20111020232616/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/johnsbo99c.html. live.
26. Web site: Scotty Bowman Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-07-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20080724101604/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/bowmasc99c.html. live.
27. Web site: Kevin Constantine Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2018-02-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062305/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/constke99c.html. live.
28. Web site: Herb Brooks Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2011-05-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519112528/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/brookhe99c.html. live.
29. Web site: Ivan Hlinka Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006115356/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/hlinkiv01c.html. live.
30. Web site: Rick Kehoe Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20080829211842/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/kehoeri01c.html. live.
31. Web site: Ed Olczyk Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-09-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20080906173101/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/olczyed01c.html. live.
32. Web site: Michel Therrien Coaching Record. 2008-12-27. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2008-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080830094514/http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/therrmi99c.html. live.
33. News: Dave. Molinari. Therrien fired, Bylsma in as Penguins' interim head coach. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 15 February 2009. 15 February 2009. 17 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090217233702/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09046/949415-100.stm. live.
34. Web site: Dan Bylsma Coaching Record. 2009-02-23. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2021-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20211116014832/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/bylsmda01c.html. live.
35. Web site: Mike Johnston Coaching Record, Awards and Honors . Hockey-Reference.com . November 11, 2022 . November 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111160303/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/johnsmi99c.html . live .
36. Web site: Penguins fire Johnston, name Sullivan coach. 2015-12-12. NHL. nhl.com. 2015-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20151213213406/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=792341. live.
37. Web site: Mike Sullivan Coaching Record. 2020-06-20. Sports Reference, LLC. Hockey-Reference.com. 2020-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621091950/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/sullimi01c.html. live.
38. Web site: Official Rules. https://web.archive.org/web/20080511234846/http://www.nhl.com/ext/0708rules.pdf. dead. 2008-05-11. Lincoln Hockey and the National Hockey League. NHL.com. 2008-12-21.
39. Web site: 1989-90 Pittsburgh Penguins. 6 January 2009. Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC.. 11 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081011094422/http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1990.html. live.
40. Web site: 1996-97 Pittsburgh Penguins. 6 January 2009. Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC.. 21 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080821214618/http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1997.html. live.
41. News: Penguins' Fire Johnston; Patrick Is Interim Coach . The New York Times. 4 March 1997. 6 January 2009.