The Blue Jacket's Coaching Lineup is Set for the 2024-25 Season

The Blue Jacket’s Coaching Lineup is Set for the 2024-25 Season

President and General Manager Don Waddell announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets have completed their coaching lineup for the 2024-25 season. With Dean Evason as the new head coach, there have been a few other additions and subtractions since last season. Two new assistant coaches will be joining the team, Mike Haviland, and Scott Ford. Former assistant coaches Josef Boumedienne and Mark Recchi will not be returning. Meanwhile, assistant coaches Steve McCarthy and Jared Boll, and goalie coach Niklas Backstrom will remain with the team.

Mike Haviland

Haviland, a native of Middletown, New Jersey, is moving to the Blue Jackets as an assistant coach after being an associate coach on the Cleveland Monsters for the last two seasons.

His hockey career started young as a player, and he spent time playing at Elmira College and playing in the ECHL, and the AHL. After college, he moved on to the Binghampton Whalers (AHL), then the Richmond Renegades (ECHL), and finally the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds (ECHL)

Haviland’s coaching career started as an assistant coach for the Trenton Titans (ECHL) from 1999-2001. He then moved on to a head coaching position for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (ECHL) before returning to Trenton as a head coach. He also was the head coach for the Norfolk Admirals (AHL), Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), and Colorado College (NCAA/NCHC).

Between coaching the Ice Hogs and the Bears, Haviland was an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2010. He had also briefly served as an associate coach for the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).

Scott Ford

A Fort St. John, BC native, Ford also started his hockey career as a player. He spent time playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), Brown Bears (NCAA/ECAC), Cleveland Barons (AHL), Dayton Bombers (ECHL), Fresno Falcons (ECHL), Providence Bruins (AHL), Trenton Titans, Utah Grizzlies (ECHL), and the Peoria Rivermen (AHL).

In 2015 his coaching career started as an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate team the Milwaukee Admirals where he has been for the past eight seasons. Ford has both played for and coached alongside Blue Jacket’s head coach Dean Evason while with the Admirals.

Josef Boumedienne

A Stockholm, Sweden native Boumedienne played for the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals. He started his post-playing career as a scout for the Blue Jackets in 2013. He was then promoted to the Director of European Scouting in 2016 before being promoted to Director of Pro Scouting in 2021. He was most recently an assistant coach for the Blue Jackets before being let go.

Mark Recchi

Recchi has had a long and storied career as a player, consultant, and assistant coach. As an NHL player, he played for the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens. He retired from playing in 2011. His post-playing career started in 2013 as a consultant for the Dallas Stars. In addition to the Blue Jackets, Recchi has been an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.