From Bylsma to Hlinka: Ranking the Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coaches

In their 43 years of existence, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had 20 different head coaches.

Some have been fired. Some have voluntarily left. And sadly, three have left us, but they are still beloved in many circles.

In their careers with the Penguins, they have brought fans disappointment, anger, and joy.

Where do these 20 coaches stand?

This slideshow will rank all of the Penguins head coaches in franchise history. They are ranked according to their accomplishments during their tenure with the team and their coaching careers before and after they came to the Pens.

So take your position behind the bench and enjoy the show.

No. 20: Lou Angotti

Years with Penguins: One (1983-1984)

Coaching record: 16-58-6 (.232 winning percentage)

Angotti wasn't exactly a record setting coach when he started his coaching career with the St. Louis Blues in 1974. When he was fired from the Blues, he had a record of 6-20-6 for a .181 win percentage.

Unfortunately, Angotti didn't fare much better in Pittsburgh and was fired after the 1983-1984 season.

Angotti also bounced around the coaching ranks of the American Hockey League, but is no longer coaching.

He can still be found doing events for the Chicago Blackhawks Alumni Association.

No. 19: George "Red" Sullivan

Years with the Penguins: Two (1967-1969)

Record: 47-79-24 (.393 win percentage)

Prior to joining the Penguins in the 1967 NHL Expansion, Sullivan spent three seasons as the coach of the New York Rangers. After being fired in 1965, he joined the Penguins a little under two years later.

However, the Penguins struggled to get off to a successful start in the league, and Sullivan was fired in 1969.

After coaching the Penguins, Sullivan went to the Washington Capitals in 1975. He posted a dismal 2-16 record and was fired less than 20 games into the season.

No. 18: Ed Olczyk

Years with the Penguins: Two and a half (2003-December 2005)

Record: 31-64-14-4 (.274 win percentage)

Olczyk was an analyst on FSN Pittsburgh working alongside Mike Lange before he was named head coach of the Penguins in June 2003. He was a former Penguins player who played one and a half seasons with the team from 1996-1998 and posted 33 points.

Olczyk had never coached before he was named the Penguins coach. The Penguins missed the playoffs in 2003 and 2004 under his reign, and although highly touted superstar Sidney Crosby joined the team in 2005, it wasn't enough to save Olczyk's career.

When the Penguins got off to an 8-17-6 record to start the 2005-2006 season, Olczyk was fired in December.

He never coached again and can still be seen in the broadcast booth on the NHL on NBC and the NHL on Versus as well as Chicago Blackhawks broadcasts.

No. 17: Pierre Creamer

Years with the Penguins: One (1987-1988)

Record: 36-35-9 (.506 win percentage)

Despite having a winning record in the 1987-1988 season, Creamer was not invited back to the Penguins the following year.

After coaching the Penguins, Creamer did not return to the NHL and instead coached the Laval Titan of the QMJHL.

No. 16: Rick Kehoe

Years with the Penguins: Two (2001-2003)

Record: 55-81-14-10 (.419 win percentage)

Kehoe is one of the greatest players to ever put on a Penguins uniform. He played for the Pens for 11 years from 1974-1985 and is third in franchise history scoring today, only behind Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.

Before stepping behind the bench, Kehoe was a part of the front office as an assistant coach and Director of Professional Scouting for 15 years, having been appointed in 1986.

However, the sinking Penguins missed the playoffs both years he coached and he was dismissed at the end of the 2002-2003 season.

In 2006, Kehoe was named to the New York Rangers scouting staff and remains in that capacity today.

He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame.

No. 15: Bob Berry

Years with the Penguins: Three (1984-1987)

Record: 88-127-25 (.419)

By the time Berry came to Pittsburgh, he was no stranger to the NHL coaching world. He had coached the Los Angeles Kings from 1978-1981, compiling a 107-94-39 record and took the team to the playoffs with a record of 2-8.

He also coached the Montreal Canadiens from 1981-1983 and finished with a 116-71-36 record with a .601 win percentage. The Canadiens also had two consecutive playoff appearances under his watch but were eliminated in the first round both times.

After coaching the Penguins to an 88-127-25 record but failing to make the playoffs, Berry was let go after the 1986-1987 season.

He finished his coaching career with the St. Louis Blues, where he stayed from 1992 to 1994 and finished with a 73-63-32 record and a .532 win percentage. The team also went to the playoffs in 1993 and 1994, where he finished with a record of 7-8 and a .467 save percentage.

Today, Berry is a professional scout with the Kings.

No. 14: Marc Boileau

Years with the Penguins: Two (1974-1976)

Record: 66-61-24 (.517 win percentage)

During his three years with Pittsburgh, Boileau took the team to the playoffs in the 1974-1975 season. They finished third in the Norris Division with 89 points, but lost in the second round to the New York Islanders. That left Boileau's playoff record at 5-4 with a .555 win percentage.

After coaching the Penguins, Boileau took a job with the Quebec Nordiques, who were then a member of the World Hockey Association (WHA). He worked with the team from 1976-1978 and led the Nordiques to an Avco Cup championship in 1977.

No. 13: Gene Ubriaco

Years with the Penguins: One (1988-1989)

Record: 50-47-9 (.514 win percentage)

Before going behind the bench for the Penguins, Ubriaco played for the team from 1967-1970 where he recorded 74 points.

After taking over the team in 1988, Ubriaco led them to their first playoff appearance in seven years after they finished second in the Patrick Division. However, the Pens fell to the Flyers in the second round.

Ubriaco could not build upon his initial success at the start of the 1988-1989 season and was fired that December.

After leaving the Pens, Ubriaco coached the Italian ice hockey team at the 1992 Olympics, but unfortunately, the team finished in last place.

No. 12: Johnny Wilson

Years with the Penguins: Three (1977-1980)

Record: 91-105-44 (.471 win percentage)

While Wilson won the Stanley Cup multiple times as a player, he was never able to accomplish the same feat as a coach for the Penguins.

Wilson took the Penguins to the playoffs in 1979 and 1980. Both years, the Penguins lost to the Boston Bruins in the second and opening rounds respectively.

He also coached the Los Angeles Kings from 1969-1970, the Detroit Red Wings from 1971-1973, and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-1977.

No. 11: Red Kelly

Years with the Penguins: Four (1969-1973)

Record: 90-132-52 (.423 win percentage)

In four years as coach of the Penguins, Kelly led Pittsburgh to two playoff appearances. The Pens lost in the second round in 1970 and in the first round in 1972.

After starting off the 1972-1973 season with a record of 17-19-6, Kelly was fired.

He then coached his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, from 1973-1977 and guided them to four consecutive playoff appearances. However, the Leafs were never able to get further than the second round.

No. 10: Ivan Hlinka

Years with the Penguins: One (2000-2001)

Record: 42-32-9-3 (.558 win percentage)

Hlinka, the first European to coach in the NHL, had spent the first part of his coaching career with the various Czech national teams. He led those teams to a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics and a gold medal at the 1998 Olympics.

Under his guidance, the Pens finished second in the Atlantic Division and went to the Easter Conference Finals, where they lost to the New Jersey Devils. But after an 0-4 start to the 2001-2002 season, he was fired.

Hlinka died in a car accident in August 2004. A U-18 hockey tournament, the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, was named after him and is played annually.

No. 9: Kevin Constantine

Years with the Penguins: Three (1997-2000)

Prior to coming to thee Penguins in 1997, Constantine was head coach of the San Jose Sharks from 1993-1996. He led the eighth seeded Sharks to an upset of the top-seeded Red Wings in the 1994 playoffs.

The Penguins made the 1998 and 1999 playoffs under Constantine. In 1999, the Penguins upset the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. This accomplishment made Constantine the first and only NHL coach to lead two eighth seeds to eliminate two first round seeds in the playoffs.

After an 8-10-3-4 start to the 2000-2001 season, Constantine was fired after 25 games.

He re-surfaced at the start of the 2001-2002 season as coach of the Devils. New Jersey finished first in the Atlantic Division, but lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

Since then, Constantine has coached in the WHL and the AHL. But recently, he was released as the head coach of the Houston Aeros of the AHL. His next destination, if there will be one, is not yet known.

No. 8: Michel Therrien

Years with the Penguins: Three and a half (2005-February 2009)

Record:135-105-32 (.502 winning percentage)

Therrien began his NHL career as the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 2000-2003. He finished with a record of 77-77-37 and took the Habs to the playoffs in the 2001-2002 season.

The Habs started the 2002-2003 season with a record of 16-12-6,but eventually struggled and won only two out of 12 games. He was fired 46 games into the season when the Habs had a record of 18-19-4-5.

Therrien then took a job with the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and was promoted upon Eddie Olczyk's firing in 2005. However, the Big Penguins still struggled and went 14-29-8 under his guidance.

But things began to turn around in the 2006-2007 season. The Penguins finished with a record of 47-24-11 and went to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2001. Unfortunately, the young Penguins were overwhelmed by the experienced Ottawa Senators and were swept in the first round.

In 2008, the Penguins won their division with a record of 47-27-8. They went on to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1992. Again, an experienced opponent in the Red Wings got the best of the Pens, who lost in six games.

The Penguins got off to a strong start in 2009, but injuries to key players sent everything down the tubes. In February, they had a record of 27-25-5 and were sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Therrien was fired the day after a soul-crushing 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Not only did Therrien give the Pens an Eastern Conference Championship and a run to the 2008 Finals, we also got this little gem...which never gets old, if you ask me.

No. 7: Dan Bylsma

Years with the Penguins: One and a half (present coach)

Record: 65-31-11 (.659 save percentage)

Bylsma took over the Penguins after Michel Therrien was dismissed in 2009, and so far, he has had a pretty incredible amount of success.

After Bylsma was promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins went on a ridiculous win streak, going 18-3-4 to get into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

After disposing of the Flyers, Capitals, and Carolina Hurricanes, the Penguins defeated the Red Wings in seven games in a rematch of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins won their first Stanley Cup in 17 years on June 12, 2009.

During the Penguins' playoff run, Bylsma was named the permanent head coach of the team (he was labeled as the interim coach when he was initially promoted).

He also became the 14th coach and the second midseason replacement to win a Cup in his first season.

This year's Penguins finished with 101 points and were again second in the division. Although they were eliminated against the Canadiens in the second round, Bylsma has a 23-14 record in the playoffs.

The only reason he isn't higher on this list is because we'll just have to wait and see how the rest of his time with the team goes to figure out where he'll really stand in Penguins history.

That's my opinion anyway. Feel free to debate it.

No. 6: Ken Schinkel

Years with the Penguins:Two (1973-1974 and 1976-1977)

Record: 83-92-28 (.478 win percentage)

Before going behind the Penguins bench, Schinkel spent six years playing with the team from 1967-1973. He was first or second in scoring in the first three years of the team's history.

Schinkel started his coaching career when he replaced Red Kelly in 1973. The Pens finished with a record of 30-34-14 and did not make the playoffs.

In 1976, Schinkel returned to the bench; this time replacing Marc Boileau. The 1976-1977 season was his only full season as head coach, and he took the Pens to the playoffs after they finished with a record of 35-33-12. Pittsburgh lost to the Maple Leafs in the first round.

After 1977, Schinkel spent seven years working in the Penguins front office. He was the Director of Scouting when Mario Lemieux was drafted. He left the Penguins in 1989 to take a position with the Hartford Whalers.

Schinkel is retired from hockey and now lives in Florida, but he can still be seen at Penguins alumni events.

No. 5: Craig Patrick

Years with the Penguins: Three (1989-1990; 1997)

Record: 29-36-9 (.453 winning percentage)

Before Patrick came to Pittsburgh, he was best known for being Herb Brooks' assistant on the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team. He worked with Brooks to lead the US team to a major upset of the USSR team, otherwise known as the "Miracle on Ice".

In 1989, he took over for Gene Ubriaco and the Penguins finished with a record of 32-40-8 but did not qualify for the playoffs. In 1997, the Penguins were second in the Northeast Division with a record of 38-36-8, but lost to the Flyers in the Conference Quarterfinals.

Patrick is most remembered for his work as the Penguins' General Manager, a position he took in 1989. Under his management, the Penguins won two Stanley Cups (1991 and 1992) and a President's Trophy (1993). They also went to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1996 and 2001.

However, in the early 2000s, the Pens ran into a variety of financial and on-ice problems. After four consecutive seasons of missed playoff appearances and questionable trades, Patrick was relieved from his duties as General Manager in April 2006.

Patrick is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and is the third generation of his family to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 4: Eddie Johnston

Years with the Penguins: Seven (1980-1983; 1993-1997)

Record: 232-224-60 (.508 winning percentage)

Johnston initially served as the Penguins' head coach starting in the 1980-1981 season. The team made the playoffs in 1981 and 1982, but lost in the first round each time. The Penguins did not make the playoffs in 1983, but Johnston left the bench after that season to serve as Penguins' General Manager. He was ultimately responsible for making the decision to draft Mario Lemieux.

He went on to serves as the General Manager of the Hartford Whalers from 1988-1982. During his time there, he traded Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson to Pittsburgh in 1991; Francis and Samuelsson helped Pittsburgh to their first Stanley Cup upon being traded there.

After being fired as general manager in 1992, Johnston returned to the Penguins for the start of the 1993-1994 season and again served as head coach. He led the Penguins to three consecutive playoff appearances and improved his playoff win percentage to .478 (22-24).

Johnston was fired after the 1996-1997 season when the Penguins were still unable to win a third Stanley Cup. However, he remained in the Penguins' front office, serving as assistant general manager and Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations.

After winning his first Cup as a member of management in 2009, Johnston announced his retirement. His coaching record puts him first on the Penguins all time coaching wins list.

No. 3: Herb Brooks

Years with the Penguins: One (1999-2000)

Record: 29-24-5

If I really have to tell you what Brooks did before he coached the Penguins, then you're either living under a rock or need to read a history book.

OK, let's fast forward to Brooks did in his NHL coaching career.

From 1981-1985, Brooks was the coach of the New York Rangers, where he became the first American born Rangers coach to win 100 games. He also led the Minnesota North Stars in 1987-1988 and the New Jersey Devils in 1992-1993.

Brooks took over the Penguins in the 1999-2000 season after Kevin Constantine was fired 25 games into the season. Upon his takeover, the Penguins finished with a record of 37-31-8-6 for third place in the Atlantic Division. They made the playoffs, but lost to the Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Although he stepped away from the bench after that, Brooks remained in the Penguins front office as a head scout until he died in a car accident in 2006.

Brooks is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, the International Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 2: Bob Johnson

Years with the Penguins: One (1990-1991)

Record: 41-33-6 (.550 win percentage)

Before joining the Penguins, "Badger Bob" was the head coach of the Calgary Flames. He led the Flames to five straight playoff appearances, including the Stanley Cup Finals in 1986.

After three years as the president of USA Hockey, Johnson came to the Penguins in 1990 and was immediately loved for his optimism and his catchphrase "It's a Great Day For Hockey!" He led the Penguins to a first place finish in the Patrick Division and their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Sadly, Johnson died that summer after a battle with brain cancer. But his memory lived on. The Penguins held a tribute to him at Mellon Arena and wore memorial patches on their jerseys. They also had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup after their 1992 title repeat.

Johnson is a member of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

No. 1: Scotty Bowman

Years with the Penguins: Two (1991-1993)

Record: 95-53-16 (.579 win percentage)

Scotty Bowman was one of hockey's most experienced coaches before he even joined Pittsburgh.

Bowman first coached the St. Louis Blues from 1967-1971 where he led the team to three straight Stanley Cup Finals from 1968-1970.

In his seven years leading the Canadiens, Bowman won five Cups (1973 and 1976-1979). He remains the second winningest coach in Montreal history with a record of 419-110-105 (.661 win percentage).

After overseeing a Canadiens dynasty, Bowman headed off the Buffalo Sabres where he served as coach on three different occasions as well as general manager. The team missed the playoffs in 1985-1986, but they still made five playoff appearances during his tenure.

Bowman then took his magic to Pittsburgh and became the Director of Player Personnel in 1990.

He was assistant coach during the Penguins' first title run in 1991, but took over as head coach after Bob Johnson died that summer. In 1992, the Penguins swept the Chicago Blackhawks in four games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

In 1992-1993, Bowman guided the Pens to their first 100 point season in franchise history (119 points) and their first President's Trophy. The Penguins also had a 17 game winning streak, which is an NHL record.

After leaving the Penguins after the 1992-1993 season, Bowman joined the Red Wings and stayed until his retirement from coaching in 2002. He went out a winner, leading the Red Wings to Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998, and 2002.

Bowman won his 12th Stanley Cup as a team management member or coach. He is the Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bowman may have been tough to get along with at times, but you can't deny his accomplishments.