The Columbus Blue Jackets officially announced Monday that veteran coach Rick Bowness has been named their new head coach following the firing of Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy. Evason was relieved of his duties after the Blue Jackets failed to meet expectations this season, leaving the club after going 19-19-7 for the worst record in the East.
Bowness, 70, comes out of retirement to take on the challenge in Columbus, bringing nearly four decades of NHL coaching experience and a reputation for steady leadership. Prior to stepping away from the bench in May 2024, he concluded a highly successful two-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets, where he posted a 98-57-9 record and led the club to consecutive playoff appearances.
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Bowness’s time in Winnipeg revitalized the Jets’ identity, implementing a structured style of play that became the foundation for future success. During the 2023-24 season, under his guidance Winnipeg tied a franchise record with 52 wins, set marks for road victories and defensive consistency, and earned recognition that saw him named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach.
His coaching roots run deep in Winnipeg history as Bowness began his NHL coaching career with the original Jets franchise in the 1980s, first as an assistant before serving 28 games as head coach during the 1988-89 season.
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Beyond his time in Winnipeg, Bowness’s coaching résumé is one of the most extensive in NHL history. He has held head coaching positions with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars, among others, and has served as an assistant coach with several teams including the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. His tenure with the Stars included guiding Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final in the pandemic-altered 2020 season.
Over his 38-year career, Bowness coached more NHL games than anyone else in league history and became one of only three coaches to lead teams in five different decades.
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