The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday night that they have named Scott Gordon the team’s head coach.
Gordon, the 2007-08 winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach with the Providence Bruins, is the 14th head coach in franchise history. He has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Islanders.
"Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "Through his work in the minor leagues and most recently with Providence over the last eight years, he has gained an impeccable reputation. The entire Islanders organization looks forward to working with Scott."
"Garth has given me an unbelievable opportunity to coach in the NHL with the Islanders,” said Gordon. “From my time coaching in Providence, I’ve seen firsthand the talented young players in this organization. I look at the direction and the vision for this team and see a bright future.”
Gordon becomes the seventh former Pieri Award winner in the NHL, joining Chicago assistant Mike Haviland (2007), Atlanta assistant Randy Cunneyworth (2005), Columbus assistant Claude Noel (2004), Boston head coach Claude Julien (2003), Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette (1999) and Nashville head coach Barry Trotz (1994).
| Of the 29 AHL head coaches on opening night 2007, nine are now in the NHL: | ||
| John Anderson | Chicago | Atlanta (head) |
| Craig Berube | Philadelphia | Philadelphia (asst.) |
| Bruce Boudreau | Hershey | Washington (head) |
| Kelly Buchberger | Springfield | Edmonton (asst.) |
| Randy Cunneyworth | Rochester | Atlanta (asst.) |
| Scott Gordon | Providence | N.Y. Islanders (head) |
| Mike Haviland | Rockford | Chicago (asst.) |
| Todd Richards | W-B/Scranton | San Jose (asst.) |
| Tom Rowe | Albany | Carolina (asst.) |
Last season, the 45-year old Gordon led Providence to an AHL-best record of 55-18-3-4, while ranking second in the league in goals scored and seventh in fewest goals against. Gordon was also selected to coach in the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic.
After spending two full seasons as an assistant coach for Providence, Gordon was promoted to head coach for the final nine games of the 2002-03 regular season and playoffs. Gordon then spent the next five seasons as the head coach of Providence, leading the team to a record of 221-155-33 (.581).
A Brockton, Mass., native, Gordon was a four-year goaltender at Boston College before embarking on a professional career that included AHL stops in Fredericton, Baltimore, Halifax and New Haven, as well as an appearance in the 1992 Olympics with the United States. Gordon played 23 career NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques.
Gordon will be introduced at a 1:00 p.m. (ET) press conference on Wednesday, and it can be seen live on Islanders TV at www.newyorkislanders.com.
