Pittsburgh Penguins Officially Hire First-Timer NHL Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Penguins have named Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history, President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas announced today, which was also first reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

Muse, 42, brings 20 years of coaching experience, including five seasons in the NHL as an assistant, most recently with the New York Rangers (2023-25) and before that with the Nashville Predators (2017-20).

His teams captured three division titles and two Presidents' Trophies: Nashville (2017-18) and New York (2023-24).

Recognized for his stout special-teams play, Muse coordinated Nashville's penalty kill from 2017 to 2019, which was fourth in the league.

He held the same position in New York, where the Rangers recorded the NHL's fourth-strongest PK percentage and second-strongest net penalty killing percentage since he took over.

A Canton, Massachusetts native, Muse boasts a history of success at multiple levels. He's won championships in the NCAA, USHL, and international levels, including the 2013 NCAA championship as Yale's assistant.

Muse was also the head coach of the USHL's Chicago Steel from 2015-17 and guided the team to its first Clark Cup championship in 2017.

Muse began coaching in 2005 at Milton Academy after detours through Williams College and Sacred Heart. He was at Yale for six seasons (2009-14) and then returned as associate head coach in 2015.

Having a deep coaching resume and proven ability in player development as well as guiding winning clubs, Muse now holds his first NHL head coaching job in Pittsburgh.