Dallas Stars’ History Behind Bench

With the hiring of Glen Gulutzan by the Calgary Flames today, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at the extensive list of Dallas Stars’ coaches.

The whirlwind of Dallas Stars head coaches over the last five or so years has been crazy to say the least, but it seems safe to say that they’ve found a good fit in Lindy Ruff.

Unlike the majority of those who came before him, Lindy Ruff has taken he Stars by storm and completed their transition out of a rebuild. It hasn’t been easy, but let’s take a look back at which men have stood behind the bench for the Stars to get them to where they are now.

Bob Gainey

Bob Gainey served as the Stars’ first head coach after their move to Dallas in 1993 and he remained in his position until 1996. He coached 171 games for Dallas, ending with a record of (70-71-30) during regular seasons and (6-8-0) in the playoffs.

Gainey was both the head coach and the general manager of the Stars and he chose to step down from coaching in order to focus solely on the managing side of things. He was the GM for Dallas’ 1999 Stanley Cup win and therefore has his name on the trophy alongside the players and coaches.

He left that role in 2002 and went on to join the Montreal Canadiens and then the St. Louis Blues’ franchises respectfully.

Ken Hitchcock

The current St. Louis Blues head coach stood behind the Stars’ bench from 1996 until his firing in 2002. He coached 503 regular season games for the Stars, making him the longest lasting coach in Dallas Stars franchise history. In those games he boasted a (277-154-22) record as well as a (47-33-0) record in the postseason.

During his time with the Dallas Stars, Hitchcock coached the team to its first Stanley Cup in 1999 and a Stanley Cup Final in 2000. He is the winningest coach in Dallas Stars franchise history and his impact on the Stars as a franchise will forever be remembered.

After his tenure with Dallas, Hitchcock moved on to coaching jobs with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues whom he coaches today. He announced after signing a one-year deal with the Blues that the 2016-17 season will be his last as a head coach, so he can pursue other endeavors.

Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson coached a mere 32 games for the Dallas Stars in 2002 as they searched for Hitchcock’s replacement. In those games the Stars went (13-11-8).

Wilson went on to be an assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild starting in 2010.

Dave Tippett

Tippett took over for Wilson to finish off the 2002 season and he continued to coach the Stars until being relieved of his duties in 2009. He has coached the second most games and had the second most wins for the Dallas Stars behind Hitchcock.

He had a (271-156-71) record in 492 games behind the Stars’ bench in the regular season and a (21-26-0) record in 47 playoff games.

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After missing the playoffs in the 2008-09 season, Tippett was fired and replaced with Marc Crawford.

He then went on to be the head coach of the then-Phoenix Coyotes before the start of the 2009 season. He was named head coach of the year in 2010 and remains head coach of the team, now named the Arizona Coyotes.

Marc Crawford

Crawford stood behind the bench for two seasons in Dallas, ending with a record of (79-60-25) in the regular season. He and the Stars had no playoff appearances during his time as head coach.

Crawford was fired in 2011 after the Stars failed to win their final game of the season against the Minnesota Wild that would have resulted in earning the eighth and final playoff spot.

He now serves as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators.

Glen Gulutzan

Gulutzan took over coaching duties after the Stars fired Crawford. He coached 130 games over the course of two seasons, earning a record of (64-57-9). Dallas never reached the playoffs under Gulutzan’s coaching tenure and he was let go in spring of 2013.

He is now an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks.

Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff was named the new head coach of the Dallas Stars in June of 2013 after ten years as the Buffalo Sabres’ head coach. He has coached 246 regular season games since, going (131-85-30) and earning the Stars two playoff births.

Ruff, alongside the work of his assistant coaches and general manager Jim Nill, ended the Stars’ five-year playoff drought in 2014, which ultimately ended in their being eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. He and the Stars reached the postseason once again in 2016, falling to the St. Louis Blues in the second round.

Lindy Ruff has been the most successful coach for the Stars since Dave Tippett and he will continue to serve as the head coach for the 2016-17 campaign.

Ruff’s contract expires at the completion of the upcoming season, meaning the Stars will have to decide if he’s the coach they want moving forward. If things keep going the way they have since he’s joined the organization, though, it would be difficult to justify the Stars moving in a new direction.

Moving Forward

The Dallas Stars have had a very interesting group of coaches over the years and while not all have done as well as hoped, they’ve found a good fit in Lindy Ruff.

Next: Jordie Benn's Future with the Dallas Stars is Up in the Air

Down the line, they’ll hope to add another Stanley Cup win to the franchise’s resume and the hard work of dedicated coaches is a vital ingredient to that happening.

Who is your favorite coach in Dallas Stars franchise history? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading!