Flyers Make Coaching Change, Hoping to Change Direction

The last-place Philadelphia Flyers replaced Paul Holmgren as coach Wednesday with Bill Dineen, a veteran scout and coach described by General Manager Russ Farwell as a motivator.

“Bill is an experienced coach with a proven track record,” Farwell said at a news conference. “He’s always gotten the most out of his players, both individually and as a team.”

Holmgren, in his fourth year as coach with the Flyers, will be offered another job, probably as a scout, Farwell said. “Paul has been a very loyal member of the Flyers’ organization for a very long time.”

Dineen, 59, is the father of Flyer right wing Kevin Dineen. Bill Dineen joined the Flyers’ staff last season as a scout. This is his first head coaching job in the NHL.

Dineen, a native of Arvida, Canada, spent five years in the NHL as a right wing, mostly with the Detroit Red Wings.

He started his coaching career as a player-coach in Denver in the Western Hockey League, then moved to Houston and New England in the defunct World Hockey Assn. and Adirondack of the American Hockey League.

The team is winless in seven games, 8-14-2 overall and in last place in the Patrick Division. The Flyers are 1-9-2 against division opponents.

Holmgren’s record was 107-126-31.