Rick Bowness Takes the Reins as Columbus Blue Jackets’ New Head Coach
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a surprise move, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced the appointment of Rick Bowness as their new head coach, effective immediately. Bowness, a seasoned coach with over four decades of experience in the NHL, replaces Dean Evason, who was let go after a disappointing start to the season. The 70-year-old coach, who will turn 71 on January 25, comes out of retirement to take on the challenge of turning the team’s fortunes around.
Bowness was enjoying his time on his boat in Florida when he received the call from Don Waddell, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager, on Monday afternoon. Initially, he thought the call was about a player he had coached in the past, but it turned out to be a job offer. Bowness didn’t hesitate and accepted the challenge, citing his improved health and his wife Judy’s well-being as factors in his decision to return to coaching.
A Coaching Veteran with a Proven Track Record
Bowness has an impressive coaching resume, having led several teams, including the Winnipeg Jets, Boston, Ottawa, the New York Islanders, Phoenix, and Dallas. He took over the Stars during the 2019-20 season and led them to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 pandemic bubble. His experience and expertise will undoubtedly be valuable assets to the Blue Jackets, who are looking to turn their season around.
Despite being the league’s oldest head coach, Bowness is confident in his ability to lead the team to success. “I feel a whole lot better. Judy’s doing great, and so that opened the door again,” he said. “I did want to coach again.” Bowness’s passion and motivation are evident, and he is ready to put in the work necessary to get the team back on track.
A New Era for the Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets are currently last in the East with a 19-19-7 record, seven points out of a playoff spot with 12 games until the Olympic break. However, with Bowness at the helm, the team is looking to turn a corner. In his first game as head coach, the Blue Jackets outlasted the Calgary Flames 5-3, with Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle scoring in the final two minutes. This win marks a positive start to the Bowness era, and the team is hoping to build on this momentum.
According to Bowness, the key to success lies in giving the players the structure and details they need to compete. “The coach’s job is to give them the structure and the details. Their job is to come in and compete. And my eyes told me tonight we competed very hard,” he said after the win. Bowness also emphasized the importance of improving defensive factors, such as limiting odd-man rushes and shooting chances in the slot.
Sean Monahan, who played for Bowness in Winnipeg in 2023-24, praised his former coach, saying, “He can be hard on guys. He’s vocal. He’s fun to play for because he’s motivated to be out there to coach to get the two points every night, and I think he’s been through it all.” Monahan’s comments highlight Bowness’s ability to motivate and push his players to perform at their best.
As the Blue Jackets look to the future, they can draw inspiration from last season’s performance, when they came within two points of the final playoff spot despite the tragic loss of star forward Johnny Gaudreau. With Bowness at the helm, the team is hoping to recapture some of that magic and make a push for the playoffs.
Don Waddell, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager, cited the team’s poor performance, including blowing a three-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on January 4, as reasons for the coaching change. “I have all the respect in the world for Dean and Steve. I think last year they did a tremendous job in very difficult situations, but again, I think our expectations this year were higher than what we’re achieving right now,” Waddell said.
As the Blue Jackets embark on this new chapter, they can count on Bowness’s experience, expertise, and passion to guide them. With his proven track record and ability to motivate his players, Bowness is the perfect candidate to lead the team to success. As he said, “You don’t score your way into the playoffs. This isn’t the ’80s, man. I’m going to say whatever has to be done. I’m not a 30-year-old coach worrying about my career. I’m at the end of my career. Anybody who’s worried about next year is taking the wrong approach on this whole thing.”
