San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier (left) poses with new head coach Ryan Warsofsky (center) with Sharks president Jonathan Becher at Warsofky’s introductory press conference at SAP Center on Monday JUN 17, 2023. (Sports Radio Service)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Jose Sharks introduced their newly hired head coach Ryan Warsofsky at an introductory press conference on Monday afternoon on the north concourse of the SAP Center.

Warsofsky replaced David Quinn who lasted just two years behind the bench for San Jose. Warsofsky was an assistant coach under Quinn and was in charge of the penalty kill and defense.

Warsofsky becomes the youngest active NHL head coach at 36. He says he plans to get to know the players mentally before thinking about hockey. He emphasized that, due to his age, he feels he can connect with the pressures that social media has on the new generation of hockey players. 

“We’re very excited to announce Ryan as the 11^th head coach of the San Jose Sharks,” said Sharks general manager Mike Grier. “His track record of success at nearly every level of hockey as a head and assistant coach speaks for itself. Ryan knows our existing group well, has the respect of the players who he will be working with, and will be a great teacher for the young players who will be joining our organization.”

Warsofsky was emotional throughout his opening statement as he choked up periodically as he thanked all the people who helped him get to his current position as the Sharks head coach, including past coaches he’s worked with and his family. One in particular was good friend Rob Cancannon.

“I emailed the guy when my first year was done at Curry. It was an assistant job that opened in South Carolina in the ECHL. Rob Concannon, who’s here,” Warsofsky said. “I emailed him, and 10 minutes later, he called me, [which] changed my life forever. He’s got some sprinkled dust down there because he’s hired three NHL head coaches, Jared Bednar and Spencer Carberry. He’s one of my great friends, and I love you, Rob,” Warsofsky said.

When asked what type of style the Sharks will play under his guidance, Warsofsky said he wants to his team to play not only with an edge but also as an entertaining product as well.

“We want to be fast. We want to get on teams. There will be a very distinct look of what our team looks like. I can tell you that right now. I think fans will leave our building and say, wow, that was a fun team to watch, win or lose,” Warsofsky said. “The opponent will say, man, that was a tough team to play against. I think there’ll be some changes structurally for sure. But I think you’ll be proud of the team that we put on the ice. It will be clean. It’ll be structured. There will be an effort that will be distinct throughout the whole building.”

Warsofsky said he was excited about getting to coach all of the Sharks up and coming prospects including Will Smith, Filip Bystedt and the 2024 number one overall pick, who the Sharks have the first time in franchise history, which is expected to be Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University who just turned 18 two days ago.

Warsofky’s familiarity with the current Sharks lineup and his ability to connect with the players is what won him over with Grier and Sharks president Jonthan Becher.

Warsofsy joined the Sharks as head coach of the Chicago Wolves (AHL). He led the Wolves to the AHL’s best regular-season record with a 50-16-5-5 record (.724%) in 2021-22 and captured the 2022 Calder Cup, his second Calder Cup Championship, earning a 14-4 record over four different series during the playoffs. The year prior in his first stint with Chicago, Warsofsky guided the team to the third-best record in the league (21-9-1-2), but the AHL did not hold a formal playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his two seasons, the Wolves amassed a 71-25-6-7 record and the team’s penalty kill ranked in the Top-10 twice (2021-22, fifth; 2020-21, ninth) and the power-play ranked fourth in 2020-21.

Prior to his time with Chicago, Warsofsky worked with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) for two seasons. He started as an assistant coach in 2017-18 and helped the team capture the Calder Cup 2017-18, overseeing the top penalty killing unit in the League (86.6%). The following year in the abbreviated season, he was named as the League’s youngest head coach (31) on July 10, 2019 and guided the team to a 34-22-5-0 and ranked third in both power-play and penalty kill percentage.

As head coach in the AHL with Chicago and Charlotte, Warsofsky earned a 105-47-11-7 record (.671%).

Warsofsky also worked with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays for five seasons, including two seasons as head coach/director of hockey operations (2016-2018) after starting as an assistant coach. In his two seasons at the helm, South Carolina posted an 88-44-10-2 record and the team advanced to the Kelly Cup Final in 2017. Warsofsky has also worked as an assistant coach in the NCAA with Curry College for one season (2012-13).

Internationally, Warsofsky served as an assistant coach to Team USA’s 2023 World Championship staff, helping guide the team to a fourth-place finish at the tournament.