The New Jersey Devils have named Kevin Dineen as head coach of the Utica Comets.
Dineen, the third head coach in Comets history, will lead a returning group of associate coach Sergei Brylin, assistant coach Ryan Parent, goaltending coach Brian Eklund and video coach Adam Purner.
Dineen, 57, has spent eight seasons as a head coach in the AHL, including the past two with the San Diego Gulls. Dineen owns a career record of 322-228-31 (W-L/OTL-T/SOL) with San Diego (2019-21) and the Portland Pirates (2005-11), ranking tied for 16th all-time in victories. He captured the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach in 2005-06.
Dineen has also served as head coach of the NHL’s Florida Panthers from 2011-13 and was an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2014-18, winning a Stanley Cup championship in 2015. Internationally, Dineen coached the Canadian women’s national team to a gold medal at the 2014 Olympics.
Drafted by the Hartford Whalers in 1982, Dineen spent 18 years in the NHL as a player, collecting 760 points in 1,188 games. He also spent part of the 1984-85 season with the AHL’s Binghamton Whalers, recording 23 points in 25 games.
