Stars, Hitchcock Agree To Extension

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

September 3, 1998 / 9:54 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

The Dallas Stars announced a three-year contract extension Thursday for coach Ken Hitchcock, who led the team to the Western Conference finals this year before losing to Stanley Cup winner Detroit in six games.

"We are really happy to have Ken under contract for the next four seasons," Stars president Jim Lites said. "We feel he is one of the top coaches in the NHL who has brought great stability to our team. We look forward to him having a long career behind the bench."

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Terms of the agreement, which extends through the 2001-2002 season, were not disclosed. Hitchcock had one year, reportedly at $400,000, remaining on his contract.

Hithcock, 46, was named coach of the Stars in January 1996. During his first full season, the team came from last place to win the Central Division, before suffering a crushing first-round 1997 playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

The Stars returned this season to win the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in the regular season (49-22-11) and the best road record at 23-14-4. The Stars advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since the franchise left Minnesota.

Hitchcock has a career coaching record of 112-71-24. He began his NHL career as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990-1993 and then became coach of the Kalamazoo Wings, the Stars' minor-league affiliate.

Hitchcock took the reins of the Stars from then-coach and general manager Bob Gainey in the middle of the 1995-96 season. Gainey left the bench to concentrate on his front office duties.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Hitchcock attended the University of Alberta and worked at a sporting goods store before embarking on his coaching career.