Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the team has named Ken Hitchcock as head coach.
"Ken is an exceptionally talented coach and we could not be happier to have him joining the organization," said Nill. "He is a meticulous coach who brings with him an emphasis on structure and a defensive style of play, which will accent our level of skill nicely. Ken has an incredible hockey mind and we look forward to his guidance on the ice."
Hitchcock, 65, enters his second stint as head coach of the Stars, having previously spent the first seven seasons of his NHL head coaching career behind the Dallas bench from 1996-2002. In his first tour with Dallas, Hitchcock earned a 277-154-72 record in 503 games as head coach. He currently ranks first in Stars franchise history in games coached (503), wins (277) and points percentage (.622). Hitchcock also amassed a 47-33 record in 80 Stanley Cup Playoff games during his first tenure with the Stars, making five appearances in the postseason. He guided Dallas to two trips to the Stanley Cup Final and led the Stars to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in 1999.