List of Chicago Blackhawks head coaches

The Chicago Blackhawks are an American professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the Central Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] The team was first named the "Chicago Black Hawks", until 1986, when spelling found in the original franchise documents spelled the franchise name as the "Chicago Blackhawks", making the team change its name in response.[2] The team is also referred to as the "Hawks".[3] The Blackhawks began their NHL play in the 1926–27 season as an expansion team with the Detroit Cougars and the New York Rangers, and is one of the Original Six teams.[4] The franchise has 6 Stanley Cup championships, most recently winning in the 2014–15 season. Having played in the Chicago Coliseum (1926–1929) and the Chicago Stadium (1929–1994), the Blackhawks have played their home games at the United Center since 1994. The Blackhawks are owned by the Wirtz Corporation, chaired by Danny Wirtz; Kyle Davidson serves as the team's general manager. The Blackhawks captaincy is vacant, following the team's decision to not re-sign Jonathan Toews for the 2023–24 season.[5][6]

Pete Muldoon was the Blackhawks first head coach, and allegedly put a curse on the Hawks.

There have been 37 head coaches for the Blackhawks. The franchise's first head coach was Pete Muldoon, who coached for 44 games in the 1926–27 season. However, he is also well remembered for allegedly "putting a curse" on the Blackhawks, which stipulated that the team would never finish in first in the NHL.[7] The Blackhawks never had a first-place finish until 40 years after that incident.[8] Hughie Lehman, originally the team's goaltender, became the Blackhawks' third head coach after yelling at the first Blackhawks owner, Frederic McLaughlin, that his proposed plays were "the craziest bunch of junk [he had] ever seen".[9]

Orval Tessier became the only head coach to have been awarded the Jack Adams Award with the Blackhawks by winning it in the 1982–83 season.[10] Tommy Gorman, Tommy Ivan, and Rudy Pilous are the only Blackhawks head coaches to have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.[11] Gorman, Bill Stewart, Pulios, and Joel Quenneville are the only coaches to have won a Stanley Cup championship as the head coach of the Hawks.[12]

Billy Reay, the Blackhawks' head coach for 14 seasons, is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season and playoff games coached and wins, with 1012 regular-season games coached, 516 regular-season game wins, 117 playoff games coached, and 57 playoff game wins. Twenty-three head coaches spent their entire NHL head coaching careers with the Blackhawks. Darryl Sutter and Brian Sutter are the only pair of brothers[13] to have coached the Blackhawks; both coached the Hawks for three seasons each.

Joel Quenneville was the head coach of the Blackhawks from the 2008–09 season to early in the 2018–19 season.[14][15] and guided the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015. At the time of his firing, Quenneville was the second-winningest coach both in the Blackhawks and NHL history, and was also second in all-time games coached.[14]

The 40th and current head coach of the Blackhawks is Luke Richardson, who was hired on June 24, 2022.[16]


# Number of coaches[a]
GC Games coached
W Wins = Two points
L Losses = No points
T Ties = One point
OT Overtime/shootout losses = One point[b]
PTS Points
Win% Winning percentage[c]
Ref Reference
* Spent entire NHL head coaching career with the Blackhawks
Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder
Spent entire NHL head coaching career with the Blackhawks
and have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder

Coaches

edit
 
Hughie Lehman won three out of the 21 games he coached.
 
Charlie Conacher coached the Blackhawks for three seasons.
 
Mike Keenan was the Blackhawks head coach for four seasons.
 
Darryl Sutter coached the Blackhawks for three seasons.
 
Alpo Suhonen was the Blackhawks head coach in the 2000–01 season.
# Name Term[c] Regular season Playoffs Achievements Ref
GC W L T/OT PTS Win% GC W L T Win%
1 Pete Muldoon* 1926–1927 44 19 22 3 41 .466 2 0 1 1 .250 [17]
2 Barney Stanley* 1927–1928 23 4 17 2 10 .217 [18]
3 Hughie Lehman* 1928 21 3 17 1 7 .167 [19]
4 Herb Gardiner* 1928–1929 32 5 23 4 14 .219 [20]
5 Dick Irvin 1929 12 2 6 4 8 .333 [21]
6 Tom Shaughnessy* 1929–1930 21 10 8 3 23 .548 [22]
7 Bill Tobin* 1930 23 11 10 2 24 .522 2 0 1 1 .250 [23]
Dick Irvin 1930–1931 44 24 17 3 51 .580 9 5 3 1 .611 [21]
Bill Tobin* 1931–1932 48 18 19 11 47 .490 2 1 1 0 .500 [23]
8 Emil Iverson* 1932–1933 21 8 7 6 22 .524 [24]
9 Godfrey Matheson* 1933 2 0 2 0 0 .000 [25]
10 Tommy Gorman 19331934 73 28 28 17 73 .500 8 6 1 1 .813 1933–34 Stanley Cup championship[12] [26]
11 Clem Loughlin* 19341937 144 61 63 20 142 .493 4 1 2 1 .375 [27]
12 Bill Stewart* 19371939 69 22 35 12 56 .406 10 7 3 .700 1937–38 Stanley Cup championship[12] [28]
13 Paul Thompson* 19391944 272 104 127 41 249 .458 19 7 12 .368 [29]
14 Johnny Gottselig* 19441947 187 62 105 20 144 .385 4 0 4 .000 [30]
15 Charlie Conacher* 19481950 162 56 84 22 134 .414 [31]
16 Ebbie Goodfellow* 19501952 140 30 91 19 79 .282 [32]
17 Sid Abel 19521954 140 39 79 22 100 .357 7 3 4 .429 [33]
18 Frank Eddolls* 1954–1955 70 13 40 17 43 .307 [34]
Dick Irvin 1955–1956 70 19 39 12 50 .357 [21]
19 Tommy Ivan 19561957 103 26 56 21 73 .354 [35]
20 Rudy Pilous 19571963 387 162 151 74 398 .514 40 18 22 .450 1960–61 Stanley Cup championship[12] [36]
21 Billy Reay 19631976 1,012 516 335 161 1,193 .589 117 57 60 .487 [37]
22 Bill White* 1976–1977 46 16 24 6 38 .413 2 0 2 .000 [38]
23 Bob Pulford 19771979 160 61 65 34 156 .488 4 0 8 .000 [39]
24 Eddie Johnston 1979–1980 80 34 27 19 87 .544 7 3 4 .429 [40]
25 Keith Magnuson* 19801982 132 49 57 26 124 .470 3 0 3 .000 [41]
Bob Pulford 1982 28 12 14 2 26 .464 15 8 7 .533 [39]
26 Orval Tessier* 19821985 213 99 93 21 219 .514 18 9 9 .500 1982–83 Jack Adams Award winner[10] [42]
Bob Pulford 19851987 187 84 77 26 194 .519 22 9 13 .409 [39]
27 Bob Murdoch 1987–1988 80 30 41 9 69 .431 5 1 4 .200 [43]
28 Mike Keenan 19881992 320 153 126 41 347 .542 60 33 27 .550 [44]
29 Darryl Sutter 19921995 216 110 80 26 246 .569 26 11 15 .423 [45]
30 Craig Hartsburg 19951998 246 104 102 40 248 .504 16 8 8 .500 [46]
31 Dirk Graham* 1998–1999 59 16 35 8 40 .339 [47]
32 Lorne Molleken* 19991999 47 18 19 10 46 .489 [48]
Bob Pulford 1999–2000 58 28 24 6 62 .534 [39]
33 Alpo Suhonen* 2000–2001 82 29 41 12 70 .427 [49]
34 Brian Sutter 20012004 246 91 103 52 234 .476 5 1 4 .200 [50]
35 Trent Yawney* 20052006 103 33 55 15 81 .393 [51]
36 Denis Savard* 20062008 147 65 66 16 146 .497 [52]
37 Joel Quenneville 20082018 797 452 249 96 1,000 .627 128 76 52 .594 3 Stanley Cup championships (2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15)[12] [53]
38 Jeremy Colliton* 20182021 205 87 92 26 200 .488 9 4 5 .444 [54]
39 Derek King* 20212022 70 27 33 10 64 .457 [55]
40 Luke Richardson* 2022–present 164 49 102 13 111 .338

Notes

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  • a A running total of the number of coaches of the Blackhawks; thus, any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.
  • b Before the 2005–06 season, the NHL instituted a penalty shootout for regular season games that remained tied after a five-minute overtime period, which prevented ties.[56]
  • c In ice hockey, the winning percentage is calculated by dividing points by maximum possible points.
  • d Each year is linked to an article about that particular NHL season.

References

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General
  • "Chicago Blackhawks Coach Register". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
Specific
  1. ^ "Teams". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  2. ^ Diamond, Dan (1991). The Official National Hockey League 75th Anniversary Commemorative Book. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. p. 291. ISBN 0-7710-6727-5
  3. ^ "This Month In Hawks History: June". Chicago Blackhawks. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  4. ^ "Do Original Six teams still matter in the NHL?". ESPN. 2007-02-23. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  5. ^ "Front Office". Chicago Blackhawks. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  6. ^ "Roster". Chicago Blackhawks. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  7. ^ "The McLaughlin Years". Chicago Blackhawks. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  8. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  9. ^ Allen, Kevin; Duff, Bob; Bower, Johnny (2002). Without Fear: Hockey's 50 Greatest Goaltenders. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-57243-484-4. OCLC 49936232.
  10. ^ a b "Jack Adams Award". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  11. ^ "Hockey Hall of Fame inductees — Builders by Induction Year". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  13. ^ "Brent Sutter cites family in explaining resignation as Devils coach". Calgary Herald. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-16. [dead link]
  14. ^ a b "RELEASE: Blackhawks make coaching change". NHL.com. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "Blackhawks fire Savard after 4 games, hire Quenneville". ESPN. 2008-10-16. Archived from the original on 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  16. ^ Pope, Ben (June 24, 2022). "Blackhawks to hire Luke Richardson as head coach". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "Pete Muldoon Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  18. ^ "Barney Stanley Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  19. ^ "Hugh Lehman Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  20. ^ "Herb Gardiner Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  21. ^ a b c "Dick Irvin Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  22. ^ "Tom Shaughnessy Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  23. ^ a b "Bill Tobin Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  24. ^ "Emil Iverson Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  25. ^ "Godfrey Matheson Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  26. ^ "Tommy Gorman Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  27. ^ "Clem Loughlin Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  28. ^ "Bill Stewart Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  29. ^ "Paul Thompson Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  30. ^ "Johnny Gottselig Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  31. ^ "Charlie Conacher Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  32. ^ "Ebbie Goodfellow Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  33. ^ "Sid Abel Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  34. ^ "Frank Eddolls Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  35. ^ "Tommy Ivan Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  36. ^ "Rudy Pilous Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  37. ^ "Billy Reay Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  38. ^ "Bill White Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  39. ^ a b c d "Bob Pulford Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  40. ^ "Eddie Johnston Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  41. ^ "Keith Magnuson Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  42. ^ "Orval Tessier Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  43. ^ "Bob Murdoch Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  44. ^ "Mike Keenan Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  45. ^ "Darryl Sutter Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  46. ^ "Craig Hartsburg Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  47. ^ "Dirk Graham Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  48. ^ "Lorne Molleken Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  49. ^ "Alpo Suhonen Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  50. ^ "Brian Sutter Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  51. ^ "Trent Yawney Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  52. ^ "Denis Savard Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  53. ^ "Joel Quenneville Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  54. ^ "Jeremy Colliton Coaching Reference". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  55. ^ "Derek King Coaching Reference". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  56. ^ "Official Rules" (PDF). National Hockey League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-12-21.