Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has been named the 2025-26 Jack Adams winner for the NHL’s best coach. It’s the first time in his career that he has won the award.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER, JON COOPER HAS WON THE JACK ADAMS AWARD AS THE NHL'S BEST COACH! pic.twitter.com/PB8yqtcrhR
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— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) June 3, 2026
It was Cooper’s third time being nominated for the award, as he was previously nominated in 2014 and 2019. Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Dan Muse were the other two finalists.
Cooper guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record this season, which was second in the Atlantic Division. The team ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7.
The Lightning were able to make the playoffs despite the mounting pile of injuries. Captain Victor Hedman missed a total of 49 games. First-line center Brayden Point missed 19 games. Defensive pair Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak missed a combined 55 games.
Cooper has spent 13 seasons as a head coach, all of them with the Lightning. The Lightning announced him as head coach on March 25, 2013, from the team’s AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch. He has guided the team to four Stanley Cup Finals, winning twice. He is also the longest tenured head coach in the NHL.
