Penguins Name Dan Muse as New Coach, Former Rangers Assistant

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced Dan Muse as their new coach. The announcement was made by Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, who highlighted Muse as the successor to Mike Sullivan. Sullivan was relieved of his duties in April after Pittsburgh failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Dubas expressed his enthusiasm for Muse’s arrival, highlighting his ability to develop players and his success in coaching special teams in the NHL.

During this process, we met with many candidates who we believed would fit as the next head coach of the Penguins. But, ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best option. What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at every level where he has been a head coach, and his consistent success in coaching special teams in the NHL.

Kyle Dubas, Penguins General Manager

Muse, 42, was recently an assistant coach for the New York Rangers (2023-2025), and before that, an assistant in Nashville (2017-2020). Before making the jump to the NHL, Muse spent six years as an assistant and eventual head coach of the Yale Bulldogs, guiding them to an NCAA championship in 2013. He was also head coach of the USHL Chicago Steel, where he earned the franchise’s first Clark Cup championship in 2016-17.

At the NHL level, Muse has primarily focused on improving special teams. He ran the penalty kill for both the Rangers and the Predators, with those units ranking among the top five in the league under his leadership.

Pittsburgh’s penalty kill ranked 15th overall (77.8%) in the regular season last year. Dubas highlighted Muse’s “elite results” in improving special teams play upon welcoming him to the position.

Muse’s work ethic, attention to detail, and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to lead our team forward. We are excited to welcome Dan and his family to the city of Pittsburgh.

Kyle Dubas, Penguins General Manager

The Penguins’ choice of a rookie head coach reflects where the team is in the rebuilding process. After being one of the dominant teams in the NHL for over 15 seasons, a period that included three Stanley Cup championships, the Penguins have struggled to reach their potential in recent years.

Following a third consecutive year out of the postseason, Dubas parted ways with Sullivan, who guided Pittsburgh to its last two title wins, as a sign of a changing of the guard.

The Penguins’ core, formed by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, remains intact for at least one more season, with Malkin set to become a free agent in 2026 and Crosby in 2027.