Pittsburgh Penguins appoint Dan Muse as 23rd head coach in franchise history
Muse brings championship pedigree and player development record
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Muse tasked with leading Penguins through competitive transition
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The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Dan Muse as the team's new head coach, making him the 23rd individual to hold the position in franchise history. President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas cited Muse's success at multiple levels and strong player development background as key reasons for the appointment.Muse, 42, joins the Penguins with 20 years of coaching experience, including stints as an assistant coach in the NHL with the New York Rangers (2023–2025) and Nashville Predators (2017–2020). In both organizations, Muse held responsibility for special teams and played a key role in improving their penalty killing performance.Also read: NHL: Captain Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk lead Panthers' comeback to reach their third consecutive Stanley Cup final During his NHL tenure, Muse contributed to three division championships and two President's Trophies. He was directly involved in penalty kill systems that ranked fourth overall in the NHL during his two seasons in Nashville and again with the Rangers from 2023 to 2025, where the team achieved the second-best net penalty killing percentage in the league.A native of Canton, Massachusetts, Muse has coached at various levels, winning titles in the NCAA, USHL, and international competitions. He began his career at Milton Academy in 2005 and held coaching roles at Williams College and Sacred Heart University before joining Yale University in 2009.At Yale, Muse served as assistant and later associate head coach, helping the program capture the 2013 NCAA National Championship. In the USHL, Muse led the Chicago Steel to their first Clark Cup Championship in 2016–17, compiling the best record in the Eastern Conference and the third-best mark overall.Muse also served as head coach for the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) from 2020 to 2023. His Under-18 Team won the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship and set a program record with 16 wins over NCAA teams that season. Muse's teams included top NHL prospects such as Rutger McGroarty, Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, Zeev Buium, and Luke Hughes.Also read: Oilers vs Stars NHL Playoff rematch offers big betting storylines ahead of Game 1 His international coaching experience includes serving as a video coach for Team USA during the 2013 and 2014 World Junior Championships, with the team capturing gold in 2013.In his new role, Muse will be responsible for guiding a Pittsburgh Penguins roster in transition, with an emphasis on youth development and tactical structure. Kyle Dubas highlighted Muse's attention to detail, special teams expertise, and ability to connect with both veteran and young players as decisive factors in the hiring.Muse holds a degree from Stonehill College, where he played collegiate hockey from 2001 to 2005 before shifting into coaching. He and his wife, Maureen, have four children.Also read: Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele plays for his late father as Jets face elimination in NHL Playoffs The Penguins organization is looking to rebuild competitiveness in the coming seasons, and Muse's track record with developing talent and leading teams to success at different levels is expected to support that goal. His appointment marks a new direction for the franchise as it aims to re-establish its position as a playoff contender.
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