COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – John Hynes (Warwick, R.I./Minnesota Wild), who just finished his first season as head coach of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, has been named head coach of the 2024 U.S. Men’s National that will compete in the upcoming IIHF Men’s National Championships, May 10-26 in Ostrava/Prague, Czechia, it was announced today, April 18, 2024 by USA Hockey. John was enshrined in the RI Hockey Hall of Fame in August of 2023.
“We’re fortunate to have John leading our team,” said Brett Peterson, general manager of the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team and also the assistant general manager of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. “His passion and energy, coupled with his vast experience, including on the world stage, will certainly serve us well in our efforts to bring back gold to the United States.”
John embarked on his professional coaching career in 2009 as an assistant coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL before assuming the head coaching position the following season, a role he held from 2010-15. In 2011 John was awarded the Louis A.R. Pieri Trophy as AHL “Coach of the Year” and led the Penguins to five straight 40-plus win seasons and five consecutive playoff berths, including back-to-back appearances in the conference finals. Hynes became the second-fastest coach in AHL history to reach 100 career wins, doing so in just 152 games.
John made his NHL coaching debut in 2015 as head coach of the New Jersey Devils where he remained behind the bench until the 2019-20 season. During the 2017-18 season, he led New Jersey to its first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 campaign. Hynes then served as head coach of the Nashville Predators from 2020-23 before he was appointed head coach of the Minnesota Wild in 2023.
Hynes is serving as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the third time after stints behind the bench in 2016 and 2019. He was previously the bench boss for three medal-winning U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Teams, including gold in 2006, silver in 2004 and bronze in 2008. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team that earned gold in the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship.
John spent six seasons (2003-09) as a head coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and achieved a 216–113–19–9 overall record. Hynes also served as an assistant coach at the NTDP for the 2001-02 season.