Devils Fire AHL Affiliate's Head Coach After Poor Start To Season

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils announced they relieved Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen of his head coaching duties after a 0-8-0-1 start to the 2024-25 season.

"Unfortunately, after the start we had to this season, the organization felt it was time to make a change while the season is still young," Devils' Assistant General Manager/Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon said. "We thank Kevin for his time with Utica and wish him and his family all the best moving forward."

The Comets did not earn their first point of the season until Nov. 2, when they suffered a shootout loss to the Rochester Americans.

Assistant Coach Ryan Parent has been named Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season.

Per the press release, "Parent, 37, is in his seventh season with the organization, having been hired as an Assistant Coach for the Binghamton Devils (AHL) under Mark Dennehy on Aug. 23, 2018. It was the first coaching job of his career after retiring as an active player."

"In his seven years with our AHL affiliate, Ryan Parent has established a track record of transparently communicating with young players and teaching good habits while drawing on his own playing experiences," said MacKinnon. "Those characteristics will serve him well in this new role where he will need to develop, lead, and relate to players at all different stages of their pro hockey careers."

The Comets' next game is Friday, Nov. 8, when they host the Cleveland Monsters at Adirondack Bank Center.

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