Dean Evason Named Blue Jackets Head Coach

The Columbus Blue Jackets have appointed Dean Evason as their new head coach on a multi-year contract. Evason, who previously coached the Minnesota Wild, brings extensive experience with a 147-77-27 record over parts of five seasons, though his tenure with the Wild ended in a mid-season firing last November. Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell emphasized Evason's passion, hard work, and tenacity as key attributes for the role. Evason aims to end the Blue Jackets' four-year playoff drought, leveraging the team's core of young talent. The announcement follows the firing of Pascal Vincent and represents the Blue Jackets’ third coaching change in as many seasons. Evason will be formally introduced at a press conference on July 23.