King named head coach of Bears | TheAHL.com

Derek King has been named head coach of the Hershey Bears.

King, 58, spent components of six seasons with AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, starting as an assistant coach in 2016-17. He helped the workforce attain the Western Convention Finals in 2018 and was elevated to go coach on Nov. 6, 2018, serving till his promotion to the Chicago Blackhawks as interim head coach on Nov. 6, 2021.

King was most lately an assistant coach with Chicago for 3 seasons from 2022 to 2025.

In 165 video games with Rockford, King led the IceHogs to a file of 72-81-12.

King joined the Blackhawks group after stints as an assistant and affiliate coach with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies from 2009-15. He helped the Marlies seize three North Division titles in addition to the Western Convention championship in 2012.

A local of Hamilton, Ont., King performed 14 seasons within the Nationwide Hockey League with the Islanders, Whalers, Maple Leafs and Blues, recording 612 factors (261 targets, 351 assists) in 830 profession regular-season video games. He appeared in 171 video games within the AHL with the Springfield Indians (1987-90) and Grand Rapids Griffins (2002-04).

King succeeds Todd Nelson, who was employed as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this summer season.