Mike Sullivan has been named head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, it was announced today by Pittsburgh Penguins associate general manager Jason Botterill.
Sullivan, 47, has 13 years of coaching experience at the National Hockey League (NHL), American Hockey League (AHL) and international levels, including two seasons as head coach of the Boston Bruins. Sullivan also spent 11 years as an NHL player, appearing in over 700 games.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Penguins’ organization,” said Botterill. “Mike adds a wealth of experience thanks to his many successful years coaching in the NHL and AHL, and with USA Hockey. We believe he will do a great job developing our prospects to prepare them for the jump to the NHL.”
A native of Marshfield, Mass., Sullivan began his coaching career in 2002-03, starting the season as head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins before joining the NHL’s Bruins as an assistant coach late in the year. He was promoted to head coach of the NHL Bruins at age 35 in 2003-04, winning a Northeast Division crown in the first of his two years at the helm.
As the head coach in Providence, Sullivan compiled a record of 41-17-9-4 in 71 games before his promotion to Boston.
Sullivan served as an NHL assistant coach for seven years from 2007-14, including two years with Tampa Bay (2007-09), four with the New York Rangers (2009-13), and one season with the Vancouver Canucks (2013-14). This past season, Sullivan was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks player development staff where he worked closely with the organization’s top affiliate, the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, as well as Chicago’s unsigned prospects. Sullivan was primarily responsible for the development of Chicago’s forward prospects.
In addition to his professional coaching experience, Sullivan has twice coached the United States internationally, as head coach at the 2007 World Championships and as an assistant at the 2006 Olympics.
