Scotty Bowman

Scotty Bowman is the most successful coach the National Hockey League (NHL) has ever seen, and was described by Sports Illustrated magazine as a leading figure in professional sports coaching.

When Bowman won his ninth Stanley Cup in June 2002, he surpassed Toe Blake's all-time record of eight Cups with the Canadiens, and matched Red Auerbach of the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics for the most championships won by a coach in the four major professional sports: baseball, football, basketball, or hockey.

After 30 seasons in the NHL, Bowman holds the all-time NHL coaching records for regular season victories (1,244) and playoff wins (223), accumulating a combined career win total of 1,467 NHL games. With 2,141 games coached in the regular season, Bowman also holds this record. His records are particularly notable given the short tenure of many successful coaches and the continuous expansion of the NHL.

Born William Scott Bowman in Montreal during the Great Depression, Bowman was the son of Scottish immigrants and grew up in a family with two brothers and one sister. Following a career-shortening injury, Bowman transitioned from playing to coaching, where he excelled.

Bowman began his coaching career with the St. Louis Blues in the 1967-68 season following the NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams. He led the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals in each of the club's first three seasons and won two division titles.

In 1971, Bowman took over as coach of the Montreal Canadiens, his hometown team. During his tenure, he led the Canadiens to five Stanley Cup Championships (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979) and six division titles in eight years. The 1976-77 team is still recognized for having the fewest losses (8) in any single season of 70 or more games.

He briefly worked as a hockey analyst for CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" in 1987, after spending seven seasons with the Buffalo Sabres as both general manager and head coach, winning a division title in his first season (1979-80).

Bowman returned to coaching with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, securing another Stanley Cup Championship in 1992. His role prior to coaching was Pittsburgh's Director of Player Development and Recruitment where he also won a championship.

Throughout his career, Bowman coached in an NHL record 13 All-Star games, with his last appearance on February 2, 2002 in Los Angeles. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1991, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Bowman was also inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and has received the Jack Adams Award for Outstanding Coach twice (1977 and 1996), along with the 2001 Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Known for his sharp memory and strategic prowess, Bowman earned the nickname 'Rain Man' in Pittsburgh. His straightforward approach and intense drive for success sometimes made him a challenging figure for players and owners alike, yet his achievements commanded great respect.

Scotty Bowman retired from coaching on June 13, 2002, and currently resides in the Buffalo, N.Y. area with his wife Suella. The Bowmans have five grown children: Alicia, David, Stanley, Bob, and Nancy.