Tuesday, 03 December 2024

Joe Tortorella

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Hockey
Statistics: 1 Stanley Cup (2004)
2 Jack Adams Awards (2004 & 2007)
660-518-37-123 NHL Record
Known for his fiery temper, John Tortorella also is known for generating results.

Tortorella was an assistant coach with Buffalo, Phoenix, and the New York Rangers before taking over a putrid Tampa Bay Lightning team during the 2000-01 season. The Lightning was only in existence for a few seasons and had nothing to show for it. Showing marginal improvement over Tortorella's first couple of years, Tampa won their division in 2003 and made it to the second round of the playoffs.

Tortorella took the Lightning to 106 Point season, and they went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 2004. For his efforts, Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL coach of the year.

Leaving Tampa in 2008, Tortorella returned behind the bench late in the 2008-09 season for the New York Rangers. It was an up-and-down time in New York for Tortorella, but he did bring them to a Conference Final in 2012. After the Rangers were eliminated in 2013, Tortorella was fired.

Tortorella then had the worst year of his career, a long campaign as Vancouver's head coach where his team missed the playoffs, and he clashed with management, players, and fans alike. It was a horrible ending, and it might have doomed his career, but before the 2015-16 season began, Tortorella was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

To date, Columbus has made four consecutive post-seasons under Tortorella, and he won his second Jack Adams in 2017.

At present, Tortorella has the most wins of any American coach in the NHL, narrowly ahead of Peter Laviolette.

Currently, Tortorella is in his sixth season as the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach.

We are proud to nominate John Tortorella for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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