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Marco Sturm has been appointed as the 30th head coach of the Boston Bruins.Sturm previously coached the AHL’s Ontario Reign for three seasons and was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings.Bruins GM Don Sweeney expressed confidence in Sturm’s ability to enhance the team’s offensive strategy while maintaining their strong defense.
The Boston Bruins hired Marco Sturm as their new head coach on Thursday, filling the final vacant position in the NHL.
Sturm, 46, will be a head coach for the first time in the league. The announcement came in a June 5 statement from Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney, saying Sturm will become the team’s 30th head coach, with an introductory press conference set for Tuesday, June 10.
“We’re proud to name Marco as the 30th Head Coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome him, Astrid, Mason, and Kaydie to Boston,” Sweeney said. “Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively. We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion.”
In the statement released by the team, Sturm said “I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins. I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.”
The Bruins punched their ticket to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons before limping to an Atlantic Division-worst 33-39-10 record in 2024-25. Boston replaced head coach Jim Montgomery after 20 games on Nov. 19, with interim head coach Joe Sacco finishing the season with a 25-30-7 mark.
As a player, Sturm skated in 938 career NHL games with Florida, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Boston and San Jose from 1997-2012, recording 242 goals and 245 assists for 487 points with a plus-59 rating. He scored the game-winning overtime goal for the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Flyers at the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. He is Germany’s all-time leader in NHL games played.
The Dingolfing, Germany native was originally selected by San Jose in the first round (21st overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Sturm and his wife, Astrid, have two children – Mason and Kaydie.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with information about the Bruins introductory press conference.