Thursday, May 26, 2016

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Arizona Coyotes General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have signed Newell Brown to a multi-year contract extension to serve as the team’s Assistant Coach. The Coyotes also announced that Steve Sullivan has been promoted to Director of Player Development and has signed a multi-year contract extension. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Newell Brown



“We are very pleased to sign Newell to a multi-year contract extension,” said Chayka. “Newell is an excellent coach and has done a great job overseeing our power play. He has been a valuable addition to Dave Tippett’s coaching staff and we are all thrilled to have him back.”

Brown, who oversees the team’s power-play unit, completed his third season with Arizona in 2015-16. The Coyotes led the NHL with 35 home power-play goals and ranked sixth with a 21.9 home power-play% (PP%) last season. Arizona finished seventh at 20.0% in NHL PP% in 2014-15 while the team’s 19.9 PP% ranked fourth-highest in 2013-14.

Prior to joining the Coyotes, Brown spent three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks as an Assistant Coach. He was named to the Vancouver staff on August 3, 2010 and he helped the Canucks to consecutive President’s Trophies in 2010-11 and 2011-12 in addition to an appearance in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. The 54-year-old coach joined the Canucks after spending five seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Anaheim Ducks. Prior to that, he held the roles of Associate Coach and Assistant Coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks dating back to the 1996-97 season.

Before joining the NHL ranks, the Cornwall, Ontario native spent four seasons as Head Coach of the Adirondack Red Wings, Detroit’s AHL affiliate. He recorded a 151-132-36-2 record and four consecutive postseason appearances with Adirondack. He also served as Head Coach of Michigan Tech University from 1990-1992 after serving as an Assistant Coach at Michigan State from 1986-1990. On the international stage, Brown was Head Coach of Team Canada when they secured a silver medal at the 1988 Spengler Cup.

Steve Sullivan

Sullivan will continue to oversee Coyotes amateur player development in addition to working with coaches and players in Tucson (AHL) during the season. The Timmins, Ontario native totaled 290-457-747 in 1,011 career NHL games that included stints with the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Coyotes. He also recorded 9-14-23 in 50 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Sullivan collected 5-7-12 in 33 contests with the Coyotes in 2012-13, and appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game on March 28, 2013 against Nashville.

“Steve has done an excellent job monitoring and developing our top prospects the past two seasons,” said Chayka. “We are pleased with his work and he is very deserving of this promotion.”

In 2009, Sullivan was the recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, which is awarded each year to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Sullivan became the first player in Predators history to win an NHL award.