Predators Name Dan Muse Assistant Coach

Nashville, Tenn. (July 21, 2017) - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that Dan Muse has been named assistant coach of the team. In addition, Kevin McCarthy has been promoted to the title of associate head coach. Muse will work closely with Predators forwards and run the penalty kill while McCarthy will be in charge of the club's defensemen and oversee the power play.
"Dan is an up-and-coming coach that has proven to be a winner at multiple levels," Poile said. "He has a successful track record working with young players and we welcome his fresh perspective in the 2017-18 season and beyond."

"Dan comes to us as a successful young coach that brings great energy and passion to the game," Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. "He has worked his way up through the coaching ranks, first winning an NCAA title at Yale in 2013, and then taking a Chicago team that had missed the playoffs eight straight seasons and turned them into the Clark Cup champions in just two seasons. We are excited to welcome him to the organization and look forward to his contributions to the coaching staff."
Muse, 35 (7/21/82), joins the Predators organization just two months after winning the Clark Cup as head coach of the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, a position he held for the past two seasons. Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Muse served as an assistant coach at Yale University from 2009 to 2013 before being promoted to the title of associate head coach at Yale from 2013 to 2015. In addition, Muse served as video coordinator for the United States National Junior Team in 2013 and 2014, winning a Gold Medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship. He has also been behind the bench as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University, Williams College and Milton Academy.

Muse saw plenty of success as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Yale, including winning an NCAA National Championship with the Bulldogs in 2013. In 2014-15, Yale led the nation in team defense (1.64 goals-against average) and finished the season with the NCAA's top-rated penalty kill (90.1 percent). During his time with the Bulldogs, Muse helped guide the team to Ivy League regular-season titles in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015, as well as a pair of ECAC tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in those four seasons.
After missing the playoffs in his first season with the Steel, Muse built a roster that finished with a 38-17-5 record during the 2016-17 regular season before winning three, best-of-five series to capture the 2017 Clark Cup. Muse's club finished with the USHL's top-ranked penalty kill in 2016-17 with a 90.3 percent success rate.
"To get an opportunity to work in an organization like this, I couldn't be more excited," Muse said. "To see the success that the Predators have had, to see the excitement level in Nashville right now - I think this is the hottest hockey city out there. I'm truly blessed to join this coaching staff and help the Predators work toward achieving their ultimate goal."

McCarthy joined the Predators prior to the 2014-15 season, and, alongside Laviolette, helped Nashville make their first run to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history in 2017. In addition his time with the Predators, McCarthy has served as an assistant coach under Laviolette with Philadelphia and Carolina, winning a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and reaching the Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native spent a total of 16 seasons in the Hartford Whalers/Carolina organization from 1992-2009.
After three seasons as an assistant for the Whalers (1992-95), McCarthy served as head coach for the franchise's AHL affiliates in Springfield (1995-97) and New Haven (1997-99), compiling a 156-123-36 record. He rejoined the parent team for the 1999-2000 season, and spent the next nine years as a Hurricanes assistant. McCarthy's coaching career started as a player-assistant coach for the AHL's Hershey Bears (1987-88), before a full-time move behind the bench as an assistant in 1988-89 and head coach in 1989-90.
McCarthy also had front office experience as the Flyers Director of Professional Scouting from 1990-92. The former defenseman spent 10 seasons in the NHL with the Flyers, Vancouver and Pittsburgh from 1977-87, posting 258 points (67g-191a) in 527 career games. During his time with Vancouver, he served as the Canucks' team captain and was named a starter in the 1981 NHL All-Star Game.
"I'm extremely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to serve as associate head coach," McCarthy said. "I'm looking forward to working with the team and our coaching staff as we continue to pursue the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup."
"Kevin is one of the most experienced coaches in the National Hockey League, and given his wealth of knowledge and insight, is was only fitting to elevate him to the title of associate head coach," Laviolette said. "I have the utmost confidence in Kevin's ability to positively contribute to any and all situations, and am fortunate to work with him on a day-to-day basis."