Richard Gary Bowness (born January 25, 1955) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 26th overall, by the Atlanta Flames in the 1975 NHL amateur draft, and played in the NHL for the Flames, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and original Winnipeg Jets. As a coach, Bowness has also served as head coach for the original Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and the current Winnipeg Jets. He likewise held the position of assistant coach roles with the original Jets, Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Stars.
As of 2026, Bowness is the last active coach in the NHL who was also a head coach for an NHL team in the 1980s, and the only coach to have led both iterations of the Winnipeg Jets. His 2,726 games as an NHL head or assistant coach are the most by anyone in league history.
Playing career
Junior hockey
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Bowness began his junior hockey career with the Quebec Remparts of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1972–73, where in 30 games, Bowness had two goals and nine points. In 14 playoff games with Quebec, Bowness had a goal and five points.
Bowness started the 1973–74 season with the Remparts. He appeared in 34 games, scoring 16 goals and 45 points. Midway through the season, the Remparts traded Bowness to the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge, with whom he finished the season, scoring nine goals and 26 points in 33 games with the club, helping them to reach the playoffs. In nine postseason games, Bowness had four goals and eight points.
In 1974–75, Bowness played the entire season with the Bleu Blanc Rouge, appearing in 71 games, scoring 24 goals and 95 points to finish fourth in team scoring. In eight playoff games, Bowness scored five goals and eight points. After the season, Bowness was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the second round, 26th overall in 1975 NHL amateur draft, as well as in the fifth round, 62nd overall by the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in the 1975 WHA amateur draft.
Professional playing career
Bowness spent the majority of his first professional season in 1975–76 with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League (CHL), where in 64 games, he earned 25 goals and 63 points, and had 160 penalty minutes. In nine playoff games, Bowness had four goals and seven points. Bowness also played two games with Nova Scotia Voyageurs of American Hockey League (AHL), recording one assist. Bowness also made his National Hockey League(NHL) debut during the 1975–76 season, going pointless in five games with the Atlanta Flames.
His 1976–77 season was split between Tulsa and the Flames, as Bowness appeared in 39 games with Tulsa, scoring 15 goals and 30 points. In eight postseason games with the Oilers, Bowness had one assist. He also played in 28 games with the Atlanta Flames, recording four assists. On August 18, 1977, the Flames traded Bowness to the Detroit Red Wings for cash considerations.
Bowness spent the entire 1977–78 NHL season in the NHL with Detroit, scoring eight goals and 19 points in 61 games, helping the team reach the playoffs. In four playoff games with Detroit, Bowness was held off the scoresheet as the Red Wings lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the quarter-finals. He was set to return to the Red Wings for the 1978–79 season, however, on October 10, 1978, Detroit traded Bowness to the St. Louis Blues for cash.
Bowness spent most of the 1978–79 season in the CHL with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, appearing in 48 games with the team, scoring 25 goals and 53 points with Salt Lake. In ten playoff games with the Golden Eagles, Bowness had five goals and nine points. Bowness also appeared in 24 games with the St. Louis Blues, scoring a goal and four points with the club. Bowness once again spent a majority of the 1979–80 with the Golden Eagles. In 71 games with Salt Lake, Bowness had 25 goals and 71 points to finish fifth in team scoring, while accumulating a team-high 135 penalty minutes. In 13 playoff games with Salt Lake, Bowness had five goals and 14 points. He also played in 10 games with the Blues, scoring a goal and three points. On June 13, 1980, the Blues traded Bowness to the Winnipeg Jets for Craig Norwich.
Bowness played in 45 games with the Winnipeg Jets in the 1980–81, scoring eight goals and 25 points, however, the Jets failed to make the playoffs. Bowness also returned to the Tulsa Oilers of the CHL for 35 games, scoring 12 goals and 32 points. He spent the entire 1981–82 regular season playing with Tulsa, finishing second on the team in scoring with 34 goals and 87 points in 79 games. In three playoff games with the Oilers, Bowness had two assists. Bowness also appeared in a playoff game with the Jets and was held off the scoresheet.
In the 1982–83 season, Bowness was a player-coach with the Sherbrooke Jets of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 65 games, Bowness had 17 goals and 48 points with Sherbrooke. Bowness wrapped up his playing career in the 1983–84 season with Sherbrooke, playing in 21 games, scoring nine goals and 20 points. He retired after the season to become an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets.
Coaching career
Winnipeg Jets (original franchise)
Bowness became the first head coach of the Winnipeg Jets' new AHL affiliate, the Sherbrooke Jets, in the 1982–83 AHL season, as a player-coach with the club. Sherbrooke had a tough season, finishing in last place in the North Division with a 22–54–4 record, earning 48 points. He stepped down as player-coach before the 1983–84, as he played one last season before retiring in the summer of 1984.
Bowness became an assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets under head coach Barry Long in the 1984–85 season. Winnipeg had a successful season, going 43–27–10, earning 96 points, finishing second in the Smythe Division. In the playoffs, the Jets defeated the Calgary Flames before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division final.
Bowness remained on the Jets coaching staff in the 1985–86 season, however, the club changed head coaches during the season, as Barry Long was replaced with John Ferguson late in the season. The Jets struggled to a 26–47–7 record, earning 59 points, but still good for third in the Smythe Division. In the season opener against the Calgary Flames, Bowness was once fined $500 and suspended for three games after punching Calgary forward Tim Hunter in the head during a brawl. Brian Hayward and Hunter had been involved in a scuffle which escalated to a full brawl after Hunter continued to attack Hayward. In the playoffs, the Jets were swept by the Flames in the first round.
In 1986–87, Winnipeg hired a new head coach, Dan Maloney, and retained Bowness as an assistant. The Jets rebounded from their poor season, going 40–32–8, earning 88 points, to finish in third place in the Smythe Division. In the playoffs, Winnipeg defeated the Flames in the opening round, however, they were swept by the Oilers in the Smythe Division final. After the season, Bowness became the first head coach of the Moncton Hawks for the 1987–88 season. Bowness led the expansion team to a 27–43–8–2 record, earning 64 points and a sixth-place finish in the North Division, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
He began the 1988–89 season with Moncton, leading the club to a 28–20–5 record in 53 games. Bowness was then promoted to the NHL, as the Winnipeg Jets fired Dan Maloney, and named Bowness as head coach.
Bowness coached his first NHL game on February 9, 1989, as the Jets lost to the New York Rangers 4–3 at Madison Square Garden. After a 0–3–1 start, Bowness earned his first NHL victory on February 17, 1989, defeating the New Jersey Devils 3–2 in overtime at the Winnipeg Arena. Bowness led the team to an 8–17–3 record to finish the 1988–89 season, as the Jets missed the playoffs. After the season, the Jets hired Bob Murdoch as their new head coach, and Bowness left the organization.
Boston Bruins organization
Bowness became the head coach of the Boston Bruins' AHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, for the 1989–90 AHL season. In his first season with Maine, Bowness led the club to a 31–38–11 record, earning 73 points and a fifth-place finish as the club failed to qualify for the playoffs. He returned to the Mariners for a second season in 1990–91, as the Mariners improved to a 34–34–12 record, getting 80 points, however, Maine finished in fifth place yet again. Mariners lost the first-round series of the playoffs to the Fredericton Canadiens.
Bowness returned to the NHL to become the head coach of the Bruins for the 1991–92 season. He coached his first game as a Bruin on October 3, 1991, defeating the New York Rangers 5–3 at the Boston Garden. Overall, the Bruins finished the season with a 36–32–12 record, earning 84 points and second place in the Adams Division. Bowness coached his first playoff game on April 19, 1992, losing 3–2 to the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins eventually won the series in seven games, followed by a four-game sweep over the Montreal Canadiens to reach the Wales Conference finals. It was the Bruins' first four-game playoff sweep over the Canadiens. Boston was then swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
After just one season with the Bruins, Bowness was not brought back, as Boston replaced him with Brian Sutter. Bowness then took a job with the expansion Ottawa Senators, becoming that franchise's first head coach.
The club had a record-breaking 2010–11 campaign, as the Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy with a 54–19–9 record, earning a club record 117 points. In the postseason, Vancouver defeated their rivals, the defending Stanley Cup champion and eighth-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, followed by winning a six-game series against the fifth-seeded Nashville Predators to make the Western Conference final for the first time since 1994. The Canucks easily defeated the second seeded San Jose Sharks in five games to clinch a berth in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the third-seeded Boston Bruins. In the finals for the first time since 1994, the Canucks built a 3–2 series lead but lost their last two games to lose the Stanley Cup in seven games, one win short from winning the Stanley Cup.
In the 2011–12 season, the Canucks would win their second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy. Despite this, the Canucks would get defeated in five games in the first round of the 2012 playoffs by the eighth-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
On May 22, 2013, shortly after being swept in the first round of the playoffs by the sixth-seeded San Jose Sharks after finishing the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season as the third seed in the Western Conference, Bowness, head coach Vigneault, and assistant coach Newell Brown were all fired from their positions.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Bowness joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as an associate coach on June 3, 2013, joining first-year head coach Jon Cooper. His responsibilities included the team's defense and penalty-killing, the same responsibilities he had the previous seven years in Vancouver.
On February 7, 2015, Bowness coached in his 2000th game in the NHL. The Lightning went all the way to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final but would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in a close six game series.
The Lightning would go on another lengthy playoff run as they would lose in the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2016 playoffs in seven games to the Pittsburgh Penguins, one win short from back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
On June 14, 2016, Bowness signed a multi-year extension with the Lightning. On February 10, 2017, Bowness coached his 2,165th NHL game in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild, passing Scotty Bowman for the most games coached as a head and assistant combined. Due to injuries with certain players throughout the 2016–17 season, the Lightning would miss the 2017 playoffs by one point.
He was dismissed on May 31, 2018, after general manager Steve Yzerman called the defense "not quite good enough" during the 2017–18 regular season where the Lightning finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the 2018 playoffs which saw the Lightning reach the Eastern Conference Finals and losing in seven games to the second-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, one win short from the Stanley Cup Final once more.
Dallas Stars
Bowness was hired by the Dallas Stars as an assistant coach on June 22, 2018.
On December 10, 2019, he was named interim head coach of the Stars after Jim Montgomery was fired due to unprofessional conduct. At the time of his promotion, Bowness had a career record of 123–289–51 as a head coach. After a disappointing COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 campaign, Bowness guided the Stars back to the postseason in 2022 where they lost a close seven-game series to the Calgary Flames.
Shortly after Dallas' elimination from the 2022, and with his contract set to expire, Bowness stepped away from his position on May 20, 2022.
Winnipeg Jets and first retirement
On July 3, 2022, the modern Winnipeg Jets franchise named Bowness head coach, replacing Dave Lowry.
During the 2023–24 season, he spent time away from the team twice, first because of a seizure his wife experienced in October 2023, and then for a minor medical procedure of his own in March 2024. Associate coach Scott Arniel filled in for him on the bench. He was a finalist for the season's Jack Adams Award for "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." After a 21–11–5 conclusion to the regular season, Bowness signed a one-year extension with Columbus on April 16.
Personal life
Bowness' daughter, Kristen, is the youth program director of the Utah Mammoth. Bowness' youngest son, Ryan, is the assistant general manager and director of player personnel for the New York Islanders. Previously, Ryan was the associate general manager of the Ottawa Senators, director of professional scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and was a scout for the Penguins when he won the Stanley Cup in 2017. Bowness' daughter-in-law, Jodee, is vice president of ticket sales and service for the Colorado Avalanche. Bowness' eldest son, Rick Jr., formerly worked for the Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey program. He is currently a prominent member of the Colorado Democratic Party and a nominee for the 2026 Colorado House of Representatives election. Rick, Jr. also plays Bass guitar in award-winning Denver rock band The Lollygags.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|Regular season
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season
! Team
! League
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| 1972–73
| Quebec Remparts
| QMJHL
| 30 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 2
| 14 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 6
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1973–74
| Saint Mary's Huskies
| CIAU
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1973–74
| Quebec Remparts
| QMJHL
| 34 || 16 || 29 || 45 || 64
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1973–74
| Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge
| QMJHL
| 33 || 9 || 17 || 26 || 31
| 9 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 4
|-
| 1974–75
| Montreal Blue Blanc Rouge
| QMJHL
| 71 || 24 || 71 || 95 || 132
| 8 || 5 || 3 || 8 || 29
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1975–76
| Atlanta Flames
| NHL
| 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1975–76
| Nova Scotia Voyageurs
| AHL
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1975–76
| Tulsa Oilers
| CHL
| 64 || 25 || 38 || 63 || 160
| 9 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 12
|-
| 1976–77
| Atlanta Flames
| NHL
| 28 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 29
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1976–77
| Tulsa Oilers
| CHL
| 39 || 15 || 15 || 30 || 72
| 8 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 20
|-
| 1977–78
| Detroit Red Wings
| NHL
| 61 || 8 || 11 || 19 || 76
| 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1978–79
| St. Louis Blues
| NHL
| 24 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 30
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1978–79
| Salt Lake Golden Eagles
| CHL
| 48 || 25 || 28 || 53 || 92
| 10 || 5 || 4 || 9 || 27
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1979–80
| St. Louis Blues
| NHL
| 10 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 11
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1979–80
| Salt Lake Golden Eagles
| CHL
| 71 || 25 || 46 || 71 || 135
| 13 || 5 || 9 || 14 || 39
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1980–81
| Winnipeg Jets
| NHL
| 45 || 8 || 17 || 25 || 45
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1980–81
| Tulsa Oilers
| CHL
| 35 || 12 || 20 || 32 || 82
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1981–82
| Winnipeg Jets
| NHL
| — || — || — || — || —
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| 1981–82
| Tulsa Oilers
| CHL
| 79 || 34 || 53 || 87 || 201
| 3 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1982–83
| Sherbrooke Jets
| AHL
| 65 || 17 || 31 || 48 || 117
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1983–84
| Sherbrooke Jets
| AHL
| 21 || 9 || 11 || 20 || 44
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 173 !! 18 !! 37 !! 55 !! 191
! 5 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2
|}
Head coaching record
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="7"|Regular season !! colspan=3"|Postseason
|-
! G !! W !! L !! T !! OTL !! Pts !! Finish !! W !! L !! Result
|-
! WIN !! 1988–89
| 28 || 8 || 17 || 3 || — || (64) || 5th in Smythe || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|WIN total !! 28 !! 8 !! 17 !! 3 !! — !! !! !! — !! — !!
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! BOS !! 1991–92
| 80 || 36 || 32 || 12 || — || 84 || 2nd in Adams || 8 || 7 || Lost in conference finals (PIT)
|-
! colspan="2"|BOS total !! 80 !! 36 !! 32 !! 12 !! — !! !! !! 8 !! 7 !! 1 playoff appearance
|-
! OTT !! 1992–93
| 84 || 10 || 70 || 4 || — || 24 || 6th in Adams || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! OTT !! 1993–94
| 84 || 14 || 61 || 9 || — || 37 || 7th in Northeast || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! OTT !! 1994–95
| 48 || 9 || 34 || 5 || — || 23 || 7th in Northeast || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! OTT !! 1995–96
| 19 || 6 || 13 || 0 || — || (41) || (fired) || — || — || —
|-
! colspan="2"|OTT total !! 235 !! 39 !! 178 !! 18 !! — !! !! !! — !! — !!
|-
! NYI !! 1996–97
| 37 || 16 || 18 || 3 || — || (70) || 7th in Atlantic || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! NYI !! 1997–98
| 63 || 22 || 32 || 9 || — || (71) || (fired) || — || — || —
|-
! colspan="2"|NYI total !! 100 !! 38 !! 50 !! 12 !! — !! !! !! — !! — !!
|-
! PHX !! 2003–04
| 20 || 2 || 12 || 3 || 3 || (68) || 5th in Pacific || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|PHX total !! 20 !! 2 !! 12 !! 3 !! 3 !! !! !! — !! — !!
|-
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! DAL !! 2019–20
| 38 || 20 || 13 || — || 5 || (45) || 3rd in Central || 15 || 12 || Lost in Stanley Cup Final (TBL)
|-
! DAL !! 2020–21
| 56 || 23 || 19 || — || 14 || 60 || 5th in Central || — || — || Missed playoffs
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! DAL !! 2021–22
| 82 || 46 || 30 || — || 6 || 98 || 4th in Central || 3 || 4 || Lost in first round (CGY)
|-
! colspan="2"|DAL total !! 176 !! 89 !! 62 !! — !! 25 !! !! !! 18 !! 16 !! 2 playoff appearances
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! WPG !! 2022–23
| 82 || 46 || 33 || — || 3 || 95 || 4th in Central || 1 || 4 || Lost in first round (VGK)
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! WPG !! 2023–24
| 82 || 52 || 24 || — || 6 || 110 || 2nd in Central || 1 || 4 || Lost in first round (COL)
|-
! colspan="2"|WPG total !! 164 !! 98 !! 57 !! — !! 9 !! !! !! 2 !! 8 !! 2 playoff appearances
|-
! CBJ !! 2025–26
| 37 || 21 || 11 || — || 5 || (47) || 5th in Metropolitan || — || — || Missed playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|CBJ total !! 37 !! 21 !! 11 !! — !! 5 !! !! !! — !! — !!
|-
! colspan="2"|Total !! 840 !! 331 !! 419 !! 48 !! 42 !! !! !! 28 !! 31 !! 5 playoff appearances
|}
Awards and honours
{| class="wikitable"
! Award
! Year
! Ref
|-
! colspan="3"|NHL
|-
| NHL All-Star Game
| 2024
|
|}