PITTSBURGH — Dan Muse acknowledges that his playing background, specifically his college career, doesn`t fit the typical mold of an NHL coach.
However, he believes his years as a self-described “bad” forward at Division III Stonehill College, where he scored only five goals in 61 games, were crucial in shaping the path that eventually led him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“That taught me about work ethic,” Muse said on Wednesday, a week after being hired to replace two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Sullivan. “That taught me about ‘Never quit. Don’t stop. Never listen to the outside noise and keep finding a way.’”
This relentless approach is something Muse has demonstrated throughout the past two decades, whether on the ice, teaching history in high school, or coaching lacrosse.
Beyond hockey, teaching seems to be Muse`s fundamental calling. He is drawn to the challenge of unlocking someone`s potential, whether they are a seasoned NHL All-Star, a young 20-year-old prospect, or a student struggling in the classroom.
The fact that this passion propelled the 42-year-old to the highest level of the sport he loves has been, in many ways, a fortunate outcome.
“I haven`t felt like I`ve worked a day in my life,” he said.
There is considerable work ahead in Pittsburgh. The team is navigating the concluding years of the Sidney Crosby era while planning for the future.
These plans are still developing. General Manager Kyle Dubas has spent the last 15 months focused on acquiring draft picks and young prospects, resulting in 30 selections over the next three years, 18 of which are in the first three rounds.
Muse`s growing reputation for helping players reach their potential makes him a seemingly good fit for the Penguins` direction. Dubas emphasized that Muse`s impact extends beyond just developing young talent.
“Whether it`s a young player coming into the league, or a veteran player trying to stay in the league, Dan has an extraordinary impact on all of them,” Dubas said.
He will need to make a significant impact if he is to have a long tenure in Pittsburgh, a team that has missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons and hasn`t advanced beyond the first round since 2018. While longtime captain Crosby remains highly productive, the team has faced challenges defensively and in goaltending.
Dubas is aiming for a lasting solution rather than a temporary fix, a perspective Muse shares. Muse avoided setting a specific timeline for the team`s return to Stanley Cup contention, stating only that the process will begin when training camp opens in September.
Muse mentioned he has contacted or spoken with “95 percent” of the players under contract for the upcoming season. At this stage, his focus is on building relationships rather than discussing specific strategies, which will come later.
Muse recalls a time earlier in his coaching career, particularly upon joining Yale in 2009, when he worried his limited playing history would be a disadvantage. Now, the prospect of creating a game plan for future Hall of Famers like Crosby and Evgeni Malkin doesn`t intimidate him.
“I`ve worked in almost every role you can imagine,” said Muse, who spent the previous two seasons on Peter Laviolette`s staff with the New York Rangers. “Second assistant. First assistant. Video coach. Head coach (at the junior level). Especially having the opportunity to work in two different NHL organizations, as well as with all those different players, led me to feel extremely confident about my abilities to come into this opportunity.”
This is a significant achievement for someone who grew up in a hockey family but didn`t seriously start playing until age 11 while living in Alabama, not traditionally a hockey hub. Muse can`t pinpoint exactly what attracted him to the sport; he simply always loved it. His parents encouraged this passion, and his work ethic did the rest.
Muse`s unique background is one reason why Dubas intentionally broadened the coaching search beyond familiar candidates he had worked with previously.
“If we hadn’t gone through that whole process and turned to someone I knew in the past or worked with, we wouldn’t have found the best coach for the Penguins,” Dubas said. “And that’s Dan.”
In a league that often recycles coaches, Muse, with his distinct presence and background, offers a new direction. The Penguins are, in essence, starting fresh. Muse, who has won championships at every level he has coached outside the NHL, is just beginning his journey with the team.
“A year from now, I believe I’ll be a better coach and hope to be a better person than the one I am sitting here today,” he said. “That’s how it should be.”
Duncan Priestley 
Neville Woodall