Arizona Coyotes part ways with longtime head coach Dave Tippett
Jun 22, 2017, 7:46 PM | Updated: Jun 23, 2017, 11:32 am
Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett watches his team play the Detroit Red Wings during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
(AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
PHOENIX — The cleaning of the Arizona Coyotes’ house continued on Thursday, as the team announced it had parted ways with longtime head coach Dave Tippett.
Tippett leaves the Coyotes with a record of 282-257 with 83 overtime losses. In his career, which also includes six seasons with the Dallas Stars, the coach has a 553-413-28 record with 120 overtime losses.
“On behalf of the entire Coyotes organization, I would like to sincerely thank Tip for all of his hard work and the many contributions he made to our organization,” said Arizona Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway in a statement. “Tip is a man of high character and we are very grateful for his leadership during his tenure as our head coach.
“Ultimately, we have some philosophical differences on how to build our team. Therefore, we mutually agreed that it is in everyone’s best interest to have a coaching change in order to move our franchise forward.”
Tip was not a fan of Mike Smith trade, not a fan of how things went down w/Shane Doan. Don't think relationship with Barroway was working.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 23, 2017
“After some thoughtful discussions with Andy, we both agreed that it was best for me to move on,” said Tippett. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Coyotes and wish Andy and the entire organization all the best in the future.”
I can confirm that this was a structured buyout of Dave Tippett. No details available.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 23, 2017
Am told no other members of the Coyotes coaching staff were let go, including assistants Jim Playfair, John Slaney & Jon Elkin.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 23, 2017
The Coyotes hired Tippett in 2009 to replace hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who resigned from the role earlier the same day.
In his first season with the club, Tippett led the team to a 50-25-7 record and their first playoff birth in eight seasons. That season, Tippett won the Jack Adams Award as the best coach in the NHL that year.
Tippett’s crowning season with the Coyotes came in 2011-2012, when the team won the Pacific Division title and recorded the franchise’s first-ever playoff series win.
That team’s run ended in the Western Conference Finals.
The Coyotes signed Tippett to a long-term contract in 2013. In 2015, he was given a five-year extension and was also named the executive vice president of hockey operations.
Tippett’s dismissal came just days after the team announced it would not re-sign longtime captain and pending free agent Shane Doan, bringing his 21 years with the team to a close.
