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Former Jets head coach Rick Bowness lands head coaching job in Columbus
Photo credit: © James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
By Evan Waldner
Jan 12, 2026, 19:11 EST
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After retiring in May 2024 following the Winnipeg Jets’ five-game first-round loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, former head coach Rick Bowness has, well, unretired.
The veteran bench boss has been hired as the next head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, replacing Dean Evason, who was fired today.
“As I was standing there and looking around, it dawned on me,” Bowness said during his retirement press conference. “Coaches have always told me, I’ve talked to the older coaches, older than me, they’ve always said you’ll know when it’s time. When I was looking around and wasn’t happy with the job I had done, it hit me. It’s time.”
Clearly, that feeling didn’t last long.
Now 70, Bowness is heading back behind the bench after stepping away following one of the best seasons of his career. In 2023-24, he led the Jets to a 52-win, 110-point campaign before they were eliminated by Colorado in five games.
“I appreciate the opportunity to come to Columbus because it is a good organization with good people and this is a team that I think I can help improve,” Bowness said.
Across 803 NHL games, Bowness has served as a head coach or interim head coach with the Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and, of course, the Jets. He owns a career record of 310-408-48-37 (W-L-T-OT).
Bowness was a significant figure during his two seasons in Winnipeg. He took over after the Jets failed to reach the playoffs in 2021-22 under interim head coach Dave Lowry. Tasked with changing the culture inside the Jets’ dressing room, Bowness made a bold statement early by removing the captaincy from Blake Wheeler ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Over time, he improved the team’s defensive structure and accountability. After missing the playoffs in 2021-22, the Jets returned to the postseason, though they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the first round, it still marked progress.
Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, Adam Lowry was named captain, and the Jets took another step forward, winning 52 games and finishing with 110 points before once again bowing out in five games, this time to the Avalanche.
Despite the playoff struggles, Bowness left a lasting impact on both the team and the organization during his time in Winnipeg.
Bowness won’t get a standing ovation in Winnipeg this season, as Columbus has already made its lone visit in November, but the Jets will see him again in early April when they travel to Columbus.