Sullivan coached the Penguins for nearly a decade and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2016 and 2017.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan have agreed to part ways.
Sullivan coached the Penguins for nearly a decade and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2016 and 2017. He was under contract through the end of the 2026-27 season.
“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” said general manager Kyle Dubas in a release from the team. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”
Sullivan took over as head coach of the Penguins in December 2015 when the team fired head coach Mike Johnston.
The Penguins found instant success under Sullivan, winning the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons with Sullivan at the helm.
After four straight years of first-round playoff exits, the team’s lengthy run of qualifying for the postseason came to an end in 2023 and the team has missed the playoffs in each of the last three years.
Dubas says a thorough search for the next head coach of the team will begin immediately.