General manager Jim Nill said the search for a new coach would begin immediately and that assistants Todd Nelson, Derek Laxdal and John Stevens had been fired.
Bowness, 67, led the Stars to a 46-30-6 record this season. They finished as the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and lost to the Calgary Flames in seven games in the first round.
"After careful consideration with my wife, Judy, we feel it's best to step away and allow the organization the opportunity to pursue a different direction at the head coaching position," Bowness said. "I'd like to thank all the passionate fans and the dedicated staff for their support and hard work in my time here. It has been an honor for me, and my family, to represent the Stars and the city of Dallas."
Bowness, who took over when Jim Montgomery was fired on Dec. 10, 2019, was 89-62-25 in 176 regular-season games with Dallas. He was also 18-16 in the playoffs, including guiding the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Bowness is 212-351-28 with 48 ties in 639 regular-season games as coach of the Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets, and 26-23 in 49 postseason games. He began his NHL career as an assistant with the Jets in 1983 and holds the League record with 2,563 games as a coach or assistant.
"Rick is one of the most respected and beloved individuals to have ever coached in the NHL," Nill said. "His dedication and commitment to the game, and the impact that he's made on countless players, coaches and support staff throughout his five decades in the League is unmatched. He has dedicated his life to our game, and we are honored to say that the Dallas Stars are part of his legacy."
The Stars are the fifth team to make a coaching change since the regular season ended. Peter DeBoer was fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on May 16, Barry Trotz by the Islanders on May 9, Mike Yeo by the Philadelphia Flyers on May 3, and Jeff Blashill by the Detroit Red Wings on April 30. The Jets announced May 2 that they would conduct a coaching search and that Dave Lowry, who replaced Paul Maurice on Dec. 17, could be interviewed for the job. The Chicago Blackhawks are also conducting a search that includes Derek King, who replaced Jeremy Colliton on Nov. 6.
