USA Hockey names HC for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL and has plenty of international experience. That made him a strong candidate to be named head coach for the upcoming key events, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Olympics. USA Hockey will go with Sullivan as the organization announced that he has been named head coach for both events. GM Bill Guerin released the following statement:

"We’re excited to have Mike guiding our teams. He is one of the very best coaches in the game and his background, including with international hockey, is well-suited to help put our team in the best position to win."

Sullivan has been behind the bench in Pittsburgh for the last nine seasons with the Penguins winning a Stanley Cup title in his first two years.  His teams have played to a combined 375-219-77 record in that stretch, good for a .616 points percentage while he is the winningest coach in franchise history. However, the Pens have also narrowly missed the playoffs in the last two seasons.

Sullivan is one of three American-born head coaches to reach the 400-win mark, joining John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette. Once the staff is finalized, it wouldn’t be surprising to see at least one of them on Sullivan’s staff.

Internationally, Sullivan most recently worked as an assistant coach at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.  Most of his experience in the international game came well before that, however.  He was an assistant coach for the U.S. at the 2006 Olympics while working in two World Championships soon after, serving as the head coach in 2007 and an assistant one year later.

The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off will take place instead of the All-Star break next season. It will consist of a seven-game event played over nine games between Feb. 12th and the 20th, while the Olympics will be held between Feb. 6th and the 22nd in 2026.