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Mitch Love set to be named Pittsburgh Penguins head coach

Originally posted on Rinksiders | By James Johnson | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 11:54 AM ET

After mutually agreeing to part ways with Mike Sullivan, the Pittsburgh Penguins were in the market to hire their next head coach.

It looks like they’ve found their guy in Mitch Love:

For what it’s worth, every team-side source I’ve spoken to this week believes Mitch Love will be the next head coach of the Penguins.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) May 28, 2025

Mitch Love’s resume

Love has risen amongst the coaching ranks very quickly. That is in large part due to the success he’s had.

After his pro hockey career finished, Love joined the Everett Silvertips of the WHL as an assistant coach in 2011–12. Love remained in that position before being named the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades in 2018–19. The Blades had a record of 95–44–12–4 under Love as head coach, before he was promoted to the AHL, joining the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames affiliate, as their head coach in 2021–22. Love was an AHL coach for two seasons, winning the AHL Coach of The Year award in both years.

Love then went on to join the Washington Capitals as an assistant in 2023–24. Love has worked with Washington’s defencemen the last two seasons. Along with Spencer Carberry, Love has been crucial with the Capitals rise to be the best team in the Eastern Conference in 2024–25. Before joining the Capitals, Love interviewed for the Flames head coaching position.

At 40-years-old and rising rapidly in the coaching ranks, Love will bring a new perspective to the Penguins.

This article first appeared on Rinksiders and was syndicated with permission.

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