The 2022-23 season is Mike Sullivan's eighth as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it certainly appears that his time at the helm is a long way from over. On Oct. 16, 2021, Sullivan recorded his 253rd win from behind the bench, officially becoming is the the winningest coach in franchise history.
When Did Mike Sullivan Start Coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Following the dismissal of head coach Mike Johnston, Mike Sullivan was announced as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, 2015. He signed a four-year contract extension in July 2019 and another three-year extension in August 2022. Under Sullivan’s current deal, he will be with the Penguins through the 2026-27 season.
In the nine full seasons, he has been at the helm (excluding the partial 2012-2013 season), the Lightning have only missed the playoffs once, in 2016-17.
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| SEASON | GAMES COACHED | RECORD | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 54 | 33-16-5 | 71 |
| 2016-17 | 82 | 50-21-11 | 111 |
| 2017-18 | 82 | 47-29-6 | 100 |
| 2018-19 | 82 | 44-26-12 | 100 |
| 2019-20 | 69 | 40-23-6 | 86 |
| 2020-21 | 56 | 37-16-3 | 77 |
| 2021-22 | 82 | 46-25-11 | 103 |
Having led the Pittsburgh Penguins to win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017, Sullivan has two Stanley Cups in his trophy cabinet. The team’s 2016 title made Sullivan just the sixth head coach in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup after being hired mid-season. The Penguins have had a total seven playoff appearances with Sullivan at the helm.