David Quinn

David Quinn (born July 30, 1966) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was previously the head coach of the Rangers and San Jose Sharks of the NHL, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and head coach at Boston University. He was formally inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021.

Career

Playing career After his prep career at the Kent School, he was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1984 NHL entry draft.

Quinn forwent turning professional immediately after being drafted, and instead played collegiately for Boston University. After his junior season, he tried out for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. However, during his tryout he was diagnosed with Haemophilia B (also known as Christmas disease), a rare disorder which prevents blood from clotting properly. Due to the disorder, Quinn was forced to retire from the game.

Quinn was later able to find funding for expensive medication to combat the disease, and he was given a tryout for the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. He did not make the team, but he did attract the attention of the New York Rangers, who signed him to his first professional contract in February 1992. Quinn finished the 1991–92 season with the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Rangers. He then played the entire 1992–93 season with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. He retired following that season, however, without ever making the National Hockey League. After helping build the program at Omaha for six years, Quinn left to become a developmental coach for USA Hockey. He then worked as an assistant at his alma mater, Boston University, helping the Terriers to the National Title in 2009.

On June 22, 2009, Quinn was introduced as head coach for the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). It marked a return to Cleveland where he played with the Lumberjacks of the IHL. He coached Lake Erie from 2009 to 2012. On June 14, 2012, Quinn was named as an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL.

On March 25, 2013, Quinn was named the eleventh head coach of Boston University, replacing Jack Parker.

On May 23, 2018, the New York Rangers announced that Quinn was hired as head coach. On October 11, Quinn picked up his first NHL regular season win, against the San Jose Sharks. On May 12, 2021, the Rangers fired Quinn after the team failed to make the playoffs.

In December 2021, Quinn was named as the head coach for the United States senior team for the 2022 Winter Olympics after Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan could not proceed with the NHL pulling out of the Olympics.

On July 26, 2022, Quinn was named head coach of the San Jose Sharks, returning to the NHL.

On March 4, 2023, Quinn was ejected for the first time of his NHL coaching career in an 8–3 loss to the Washington Capitals. His ejection was the first NHL head coach ejection since Jon Cooper on March 3, 2022, and the first Sharks head coach since Peter DeBoer on November 24, 2018.

After the Sharks finished last in the league in his second season, Quinn was fired on April 24, 2024.

On June 12, 2024, Quinn was named assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, coaching alongside longtime friend and former Boston University teammate Mike Sullivan. After Sullivan departed the Penguins at the end of the 2024–25 season, Quinn subsequently joined him as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, returning to the franchise four years after being fired as head coach.

Quinn served as Sullivan's assistant during the 2026 Winter Olympics, where the United States won gold medals after defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1982–83 Kent School HS-Prep 23 10 20 30 — — — — — 1983–84 Kent School HS-Prep 25 12 20 32 26 — — — — — 1984–85 Boston University HE 30 3 11 14 26 — — — — — 1985–86 Boston University HE 37 2 20 22 58 — — — — — 1986–87 Boston University HE 27 1 11 12 34 — — — — — 1991–92 Binghamton Rangers AHL 19 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 1992–93 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 60 8 13 21 102 3 0 0 0 0 HE totals 94 6 42 48 118 — — — — — Professional totals 79 8 13 21 108 5 0 0 0 0

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1986 United States WJC 7 1 3 4 8

Head coaching record

NHL Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win% Result NYR 2018–19 82 32 36 14 78 7th in Metropolitan — — — Missed playoffs NYR 2019–20 70 37 28 5 79 7th in Metropolitan 0 3 Lost in qualifying round (CAR) NYR 2020–21 56 27 23 6 60 5th in East — — — Missed playoffs SJS 2022–23 82 22 44 16 60 7th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs SJS 2023–24 82 19 54 9 47 8th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffsTotal 372 137 185 50 0 3 1 playoff appearance

NCAA

Awards and honors Award Year Ref All-Hockey East First Team 1985–86 Hockey East All-Tournament team 1986