respected, well-run AHL franchise, and the Penguins had a track record of promoting from within.
When Hynes spoke to his parents, John Sr., a now-retired president of a hospital, and Irene, a now-retired teacher, during the interview process, they counseled him not to take a job because of the pay cut. Hynes’ dad screamed, “Who is this Ray Shero guy, and does he understand you have a family?”
All of his trusted mentors were telling him not to take it. Jeff Jackson, the former U.S. NTDP coach Hynes worked as a graduate assistant under, told him, “You can’t take that. Are you f—ing crazy?”
What convinced Hynes to take the plunge was his wife, Sarah. She told him that because their children were so young, it was the perfect time to bet on himself.
So Hynes took the gig. After he got off the phone with Shero, he called his dad, who just about ripped his head off: “This is irresponsible.”
“He wanted to know if his son was stupid or just dumb,” Shero says, howling. “But that’s classic John Hynes. Coaching is his passion, and he wanted to get into pro hockey. And I’ll tell you what: He didn’t do it for the money, that’s for f—ing sure.”
Hynes moved his wife and two daughters into a tiny two-bedroom apartment in Wilkes-Barre and they ultimately had a third daughter during their six-year stay. In five seasons as head coach, he took them to two conference finals.
