There have been only 22 head coaches in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Mike Sullivan serving as the most recent and longest-tenured coach from 2015 to 2025. As expected, Sullivan has coached the most games, winning the most and losing the most.
Overall, all 22 head coaches have won more than ten games, and every one of them has lost at least 20. Moreover, 13 coaches have compiled a winning record, and 16 of them have led the Penguins in the playoffs.
Today, we will look at the top 10 winningest coaches in Pittsburgh history, which dates back to 1967.
10. Ken Schinkel (83-92-28) 1973-1977
Ken Schinkel was the third Penguins head coach, succeeding Hall of Famer Red Kelly, who was the team’s winningest coach with 90 victories from 1970 to 1973. However, Schinkel didn’t run the bench for four consecutive seasons; instead, he split his time from 1972 to 1974 and again from 1975 to 1977, with Marc Boileau serving as head coach for 151 games from 1973 to 1976.
9. Ken Constantine (86-64-35) 1998-2000
Kevin Constantine took over the Penguins following Mario Lemieux’s first retirement in 1997. He still had Jaromir Jagr in his lineup, but the club didn’t advance past the second round during his tenure, and he lasted only 25 games into the 1999-2000 campaign.
8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.
8. Bob Berry (88-127-25-28) 1985-1987
Bob Berry arrived in Pittsburgh in 1985 after spending three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. Despite having a 19-year-old Lemieux in the lineup, the Penguins won a total of 88 games over three seasons at the helm, never finishing higher than fifth in the division.
7. Red Kelly (90-132-52) 1970-1973
As an eight-time Stanley Cup champion, Kelly was the second head coach in Penguins history and became the first one to win over 90 games. Moreover, Kelly was the first bench boss to lead the franchise to the playoffs, a six-game first-round loss to the St. Louis Blues.
6. Johnny Wilson (91-105-44) 1977-1980
In only 240 games, Johnny Wilson established the franchise record for most head coach wins with 91. Additionally, he helped the Penguins to the playoffs in two of his three seasons, becoming the first to lead them to back-to-back appearances in 1979 and 1980.
5. Scotty Bowman (95-53-16) 1992-1993
Scotty Bowman was already a legend when he came to Pittsburgh to serve with Bob Johnson in 1990. After taking over for Johnson in late 1991, Bowman guided the Penguins to their second consecutive Stanley Cup title. Then, in 1992-93, he guided the franchise to its first 100-point campaign, while establishing an NHL record for 17 straight wins. Bowman also set a record with 56 wins, the most in a single season.
4. Michel Therrien (135-105-32) 2006-2009
At the time of his employment, from 2006 to 2009, Michel Therrien became only the second head coach in Penguins history to win over 100 games, finishing his tenure with 135 wins. Despite having Sidney Crosby on his bench, Pittsburgh didn’t win the Stanley Cup in 2008, and he was fired before the club returned to the 2009 Final to win it all.
3. Eddie Johnston (232-224-60) 1980-1983, 1993-1997
Eddie Johnston was the Penguins’ winningest coach for a long time, compiling 232 wins over two tenures, each lasting three and a half seasons. Despite his time as head coach, Johnston will always be remembered for his tenure as general manager, from 1983 to 1988, when he drafted Lemieux first overall in 1984.
2. Dan Bylsma (252-117-32) 2009-2014
In only five seasons, Dan Bylsma became the Penguins’ winningest coach, surpassing Johnston’s record by 20 victories. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 and helped Pittsburgh to the 2013 Eastern Conference Final. Moreover, Bylsma is the only head coach in team history to compile two 50-plus win seasons, giving him the franchise record for highest points percentage at .668.
1. Mike Sullivan (409-255-89) 2015-2025
It will take a special head coach to surpass Sullivan as the winningest coach in Penguins history. Not only did he surpass Bylsma’s record by 157 victories, but he is also the only coach to win 300 and 400 games. Meanwhile, Sullivan coached 753 games, surpassing Bylsman’s total by 352 games, an equivalent of four and a half seasons.
Revisiting Mike Sullivan’s Milestone Wins With PenguinsMike Sullivan is the winningest coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history, finishing his ten-year tenure behind the bench with a 409-255-89 record in 753 games. Those totals don’t include his postseason numbers, which are 44-38 in 82 games, including two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
Considering Sullivan ranks 15th all-time in NHL history for wins with a single franchise, and is the only head coach to lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles, his legacy in the Steel City is almost untouchable.
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