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Greyhounds Announce Departure of Head Coach John Dean
The Soo Greyhounds and head coach John Dean have officially parted ways, bringing an end to one of the longest tenures behind the bench in franchise history.
Dean, who was hired ahead of the 2018–19 Ontario Hockey League season, departs as the longest-serving head coach in the Soo Greyhounds’ OHL era, guiding the club through seven on-ice seasons over an eight-year span, with one season wiped out by COVID-19.
During his time in Sault Ste. Marie, Dean coached 472 regular-season games, compiling an overall record of 245 wins, 178 losses, 31 ties, and 18 overtime losses. Under his leadership, the Greyhounds qualified for the playoffs multiple times and advanced to the second round on several occasions, maintaining competitiveness through different roster cycles and league landscapes.
Beyond the numbers, Dean’s tenure was marked by a strong emphasis on player development, professionalism, and culture. Numerous players moved on to professional hockey and earned NHL draft selections during his time behind the bench, and the organization became known league-wide as a steady development environment for young talent. Dean also balanced his Greyhounds duties with international coaching experience, representing Hockey Canada at the U17 and U18 levels.
Despite regular-season success and consistent playoff appearances, the Greyhounds were unable to break through beyond the second round during Dean’s tenure—an outcome that ultimately led both sides to agree that it was time for a new direction.
