John Hynes Named Head Coach of 2016 U.S. Men’s National Team NJ Devils Head Coach to Serve as U.S. Head Coach for First Time

USA Hockey today announced that John Hynes (Warwick, R.I.), head coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, has been named head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship from May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.

“John has been involved with U.S. teams on multiple occasions in the past and we’re excited to have him leading our team at the men’s world championship,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group. “John’s teams are always well prepared and his extensive knowledge of our player pool is a big benefit as well.”

Hynes will be making his debut as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. He previously spent six seasons (2003-09) behind the bench as a head coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and during that time led the U.S. to three medals at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship (gold—2006, silver—2004, bronze—2008). In 2004, he helped the U.S. to its first-ever gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach. Hynes was previously named an assistant coach for the U.S. team that will compete in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Currently finishing his first year as an NHL head coach, Hynes joined the Devils after six seasons with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL. In his time behind the bench in Wilkes-Barre, including five seasons as head coach, he accumulated a 231-126-27 record. The 2011 AHL Coach of the Year guided the Penguins to five consecutive 40-plus win seasons and five straight playoff berths, including back-to-back appearances in the conference finals. In four of his five years at the helm, the Penguins led the league in fewest goals allowed.

Additionally, Hynes also spent time coaching at the college level, serving as an assistant coach at UMass-Lowell in 2000-01 and at the University of Wisconsin in 2002-03.