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USA HOCKEY MEDIA RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named Mike Sullivan (Marshfield, Mass.), who has led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a pair of Stanley Cup titles, as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and also for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
“We’re excited to have Mike guiding our teams,” said Bill Guerin, general manager of both the 2025 4 Nations Faceoff and 2026 Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Teams. “He is one of the very best coaches in the game and his background, including with international hockey, is well-suited to help put our team in the best position to win.”
Over his 11 seasons as a head coach in the NHL, including the last nine with Pittsburgh, Sullivan has amassed a 445-275-115 regular-season record.
“Mike Sullivan is not only a great coach, but someone who has a strong passion for American hockey,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “He’s a world-class leader and been an important part of hockey in our country for a very long time.”
Sullivan’s involvement with USA Hockey spans parts of five decades, starting as a player when he was a member of the 1988 U.S. National Junior Team that competed at the IIHF World Junior Championship, and then on the U.S. Men’s National Team for the IIHF Men’s World Championship in 1997.
On the coaching front, Sullivan has served on the staff of multiple national teams, most recently as an assistant coach for the U.S. entry in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, Ontario. He has also been an assistant coach for the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. In addition, he was the head coach of the 2007 U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Moscow and Mytischi, Russia, and an assistant coach for the 2008 U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Quebec City, Quebec.
“I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to coach Team USA in these two significant international events,” said Sullivan. “It’s been amazing to see the progress we’ve made in hockey in our country over the course of my career. I am honored to lead our best players and I look forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
“We are extremely fortunate to have Mike Sullivan leading these two teams,” said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. It’s an exciting time for American hockey and with Mike’s leadership, we have a chance to do something special, not only next February, but in the 2026 Olympics as well.”
“Mike is not only an outstanding coach, but a great human being and leader,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “He was going to coach our team in the 2022 Olympics before the pandemic caused the NHL to not participate, so we’re very excited to have him back for the 2026 Games and also for the 4 Nations Faceoff.”
COACHING CAREER
Sullivan began his coaching career in 2002-03 as head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins, the year after he retired as a player, guiding the Bruins to a 41-17-9-4 record and a division title in his only season at the helm.
He spent the next two campaigns (2003-04/2005-06) as the head coach of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and led the team to the Northeast Division title his first season.
He went on to serve as an NHL assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning (2007-09), New York Rangers (2009-13) and Vancouver Canucks (2013-14) and then served as a player development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks (2014-15).
He was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, to start the 2015-16 season and later that year, on Dec. 12, 2015, took over as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and led the team to the Stanley Cup title. Sullivan guided the Penguins to a second Stanley Cup title the following season and is the only American-born head coach to have won multiple Stanley Cups.
Over his 11 years as an NHL head coach, Sullivan has 10 winning regular seasons to his credit and his teams have advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs on eight occasions.
PLAYING CAREER
Sullivan was the chosen by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (69th overall) of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He played four seasons of college hockey for Boston University (1986-90) and served as captain of the Terriers his senior campaign. Sullivan accumulated 138 career points (61g, 77a) at BU in 141 total games.
He began his professional career competing with the San Diego Gulls in the IHL in 1990-91 before embarking on an 11-year NHL playing career that included stints with the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes. In 709 career NHL regular-season games, Sullivan recorded 136 points, including 54 goals and 82 assists. He also had 12 points (4g, 8a) in 34 NHL playoff contests.
NOTES: The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off is a new event that was announced by the NHL and NHLPA on Feb. 2. It will take place Feb. 12-20, 2025, and will feature international competition between NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. The format will include the teams competing in a round-robin preliminary round, followed by the top two teams advancing to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game … The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 6-22, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The final competition dates for ice hockey have not yet been set.
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U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S ICE HOCKEY HEAD COACHES
2022 – David Quinn
2018 – Tony Granato
2014 – Dan Bylsma
2010 – Ron Wilson (Silver)
2006 – Peter Laviolette
2002 – Herb Brooks (Silver)
1998 – Ron Wilson
1994 – Tim Taylor
1992 – Dave Peterson
1988 – Dave Peterson
1984 – Lou Vairo
1980 – Herb Brooks (Gold)
1976 – Bob Johnson
1972 – Murray Williamson (Silver)
1968 – Murray Williamson
1964 – Edward Jeremiah
1960 – Jack Riley (Gold)
1956 – John Mariucci (Silver)
1952 – John E. Pleban (Silver)
1948 – John Garrison
1936 – Albert Prettyman (Bronze)
1932 – Alfred Winsor (Silver)
