List of Boston Bruins Head Coaches (1924-2024)
The Boston Bruins, one of the NHL’s storied franchises, have seen a myriad of coaching talents guide the team through decades of highs and lows. From the inception of the team in 1924 to the present day, various coaches have left their mark on the Bruins’ legacy. This article delves into a comprehensive list of Boston Bruins head coaches, highlighting key statistics, notable achievements, and ultimately identifying the most successful head coach in the team’s history.
Also Read: List of Arizona Coyotes Head Coaches (1996-2024)
List of Boston Bruins Head Coaches (1924-2024)
| # | Name | Term | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Ross | 1924–1934 | 1 Stanley Cup Championship (1939) |
| 2 | Frank Patrick | 1934–1936 | |
| 3 | Cooney Weiland | 1939–1941 | 1 Stanley Cup Championship (1941) |
| 4 | Dit Clapper | 1945–1949 | |
| 5 | Georges Boucher | 1949–1950 | |
| 6 | Lynn Patrick | 1950–1954 | |
| 7 | Milt Schmidt | 1954–1961 | |
| 8 | Phil Watson | 1961–1962 | |
| 9 | Harry Sinden | 1966–1970 | 1 Stanley Cup Championship (1970) |
| 10 | Tom Johnson | 1970–1973 | 1 Stanley Cup Championship (1972) |
| 11 | Bep Guidolin | 1973–1974 | |
| 12 | Don Cherry | 1974–1979 | 1976 Jack Adams Award Winner |
| 13 | Fred Creighton | 1979–1980 | |
| 14 | Gerry Cheevers | 1980–1985 | |
| 15 | Butch Goring | 1985–1986 | |
| 16 | Terry O’Reilly | 1986–1989 | |
| 17 | Mike Milbury | 1989–1991 | |
| 18 | Rick Bowness | 1991–1992 | |
| 19 | Brian Sutter | 1992–1995 | |
| 20 | Steve Kasper | 1995–1997 | |
| 21 | Pat Burns* | 1997–2000 | 1998 Jack Adams Award Winner |
| 22 | Mike Keenan | 2000–2001 | |
| 23 | Robbie Ftorek | 2001–2003 | |
| 24 | Mike O’Connell | 2003 | |
| 25 | Mike Sullivan | 2003–2006 | |
| 26 | Dave Lewis | 2006–2007 | |
| 27 | Claude Julien | 2007–2017 | 1 Stanley Cup Championship (2011), 2009 Jack Adams Award Winner |
| 28 | Bruce Cassidy | 2017–2022 | |
| 29 | Jim Montgomery | 2022–present | 2023 Jack Adams Award Winner |
Who is the Most Successful Head Coach for the Boston Bruins?
Determining the most successful head coach requires a holistic view of their overall impact, considering regular-season performance, playoff success, and championships won. Among the notable coaches in Bruins history, Claude Julien emerges as a standout figure. Serving from 2007 to 2017, Julien not only boasted an impressive regular-season win percentage of .614 but also led the Bruins to a significant milestone – the Stanley Cup Championship in 2011. This achievement solidifies Julien’s legacy as one of the most successful head coaches in the history of the Boston Bruins.
While other coaches, including Harry Sinden and Bruce Cassidy, had noteworthy accomplishments, Julien’s combination of sustained regular-season success and the pinnacle of winning the Stanley Cup positions him at the forefront of Bruins coaching greatness.
