Phil Housley Named Assistant Coach of Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have hired Phil Housley as the team’s assistant coach.

The NHL franchise made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.

Housley has been head coach of the Stillwater Area High School Ponies hockey team for the past nine seasons.

According to the Stillwater Gazette, the Ponies had a 109-109-21 record under Housley.

That “was a significant improvement for a program that in more than half a century has never won a conference or section championship,” Stuart Groskreutz, of the Gazette reports. “In the seven years prior to Housley’s arrival — and the beefed up nonconference schedule he brought in with him — the Ponies went just 49-118-7.”

Housley coached the United States to a gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championships last year. He ranks fourth all-time among NHL defensemen in points with 338 goals and 894 assists for a total of 1,232 points.

“Phil brings a unique skill set to our coaching staff,” Predator President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile said in a news release. “He was one of the most talented offensive defensemen to play in the NHL, and he has worked extensively with young players during his coaching career. He will continue to focus his efforts on our young defensemen and assisting on the power play.”

Housley, a native of South St. Paul, was a seven-time NHL All-Star in a career that spanned 21 seasons (1982-2003) with eight teams. He was a first-round pick (sixth overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.

At 18 years old, Housley broke into the NHL posting 66 points in 77 games—finishing second in the 1983 Calder Trophy voting—while being named to the 1983 NHL All-Rookie Team. Two seasons later, he became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score 30 goals.

Housley was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

“A coach with history as a defenseman who was offensively gifted and excelled on the power play is something we have never had on our coaching staff,” Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz said in a statement. “His insight and viewpoint will bring a fresh perspective to our team.”