The Boston Bruins have their new head coach. The team announced Thursday morning that it has officially hired former Bruins forward Marco Sturm to be the 30th head coach in franchise history.
Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects reported last Tuesday that the Bruins' search was trending in this direction, but the team continued to hold interviews with candidates through the end of last week and did not finalize a decision until this week.
Sturm takes over for interim head coach Joe Sacco, who had replaced Jim Montgomery following Montgomery's firing in November.
Sturm beat out a group of finalists that included Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love and former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, in addition to internal candidates Sacco and Jay Leach.
It was not immediately clear if there are any plans for Sacco and/or Leach to remain on Sturm's staff. The same goes for assistant coach Chris Kelly.
(UPDATE: Sacco is reportedly moving on and will join Mike Sullivan's staff with the New York Rangers.)
Sturm, 46, will become a first-time NHL head coach. He spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, posting an overall record of 119-80-17.
The native of Germany was also the head coach of the German national team from 2015-18, helping to lead a program resurgence that culminated in a surprise silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics (which was played without NHL players). In between those two head coaching gigs, Sturm was an assistant coach for the Kings for four years from 2018-22, so he had the "NHL exposure" Bruins general manager Don Sweeney had mentioned as a borderline prerequisite.
Sturm played 15 years in the NHL from 1997-2012, including five seasons with the Bruins from 2005-10 after he was acquired from San Jose as part of the Joe Thornton trade. His highlights in Boston included a late winning goal in Game 6 of a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens in 2008, and the overtime winner in the Bruins' first Winter Classic at Fenway Park against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.
Sturm becomes the first German head coach in NHL history and just the fifth European head coach overall. He is the Bruins' first European head coach.
“We’re proud to name Marco as the 30th Head Coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome him, Astrid, Mason, and Kaydie to Boston,” Sweeney said in a statement. “Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively. We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion. His path – playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels – has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity. As a former Bruin, he understands what this team means to the city and our fans. We’re embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.”
"I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,” said Sturm. “I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.”