Jay Leach will return to the Boston Bruins as an assistant coach for the 2024-25 NHL season, marking his third stint with the organization. The Bruins announced the appointment of Leach and the promotion of Joe Sacco to associate coach.
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Leach joined the Original Six organization in 2003-04, playing three games for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. Leach did not make his NHL debut until 2005-06, when he played two games with Boston without scoring a point.
Over the next five years, Leach played for four other clubs before retiring as captain of the Albany Devils following the 2013-14 AHL season. Shortly after, Leach began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Adler Mannheim in the DEL, followed by a brief spell with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins the following year. Prior to the 2016-17 AHL season, Leach returned to the Bruins organization for a second stint as Providence’s assistant coach before being named the team’s head coach for 2017-18.
Leach gained his first NHL opportunity during a four-year stint in Providence, when the team went 136-77-26 under the then-rookie head coach. Shortly after being named the league’s 32nd club, Leach was appointed as an assistant coach by the Seattle Kraken to work alongside Dave Hakstol. With the Kraken intending to rebuild its coaching staff following a poor 2023-24 season, Leach was given the choice of pursuing other opportunities.
Sacco, on the other hand, has earned a well-deserved promotion after serving as the Bruins’ assistant coach for the past decade. During his career, Boston made one Stanley Cup Final appearance and won two Presidents’ Trophies as the top regular-season squad.
