Anaheim Ducks Top Five Head Coaches of All-Time
By Jacob Robles
4. Ron Wilson (1994-1997)
Ron Wilson was the first Mighty Ducks of Anaheim’s head coach in franchise history. In their inaugural year, Wilson’s Ducks went 33-46-5. They (and the Florida Panthers) bested the point totals of previous expansion teams.
Wilson’s time as head coach saw one playoff appearance and one playoff series win. His lone series triumph came in the1997 postseason when the Ducks beat the Pheonix Coyotes in seven games. It wasn’t enough to save his job, he was replaced as head coach after his team was swept in the next round. Wilson would go on to coach the Washington Capitals the following season.
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Over his four-year tenure, the Ducks had a record of 120-145-31. Anaheim would have record-setting years in three of four under Ron Wilson. Anaheim reached 71, 78, and 85 points in Years 1, 3 and 4, respectively. Anaheim’s best season under Wilson came in his last. Anaheim finished 2nd in the Pacific behind Colorado.
Ron Wilson would have made it higher on this list if it wasn’t for what the next entry had accomplished. He will always go down as a key piece in Ducks history as its first head coach. Wilson’s contribution in leading the earliest iterations of the franchise to milestone years so early in its history can’t go unrecognized.