Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website

A key figure to every team is the Coach. Not only is the coach responsible for the on-ice performance of his team, he is a renaissance man--a mentor to new talent, the lead architect of offensive and defensive strategy, a scholar of every opponents strengths and weaknesses, and a stakeholder in future development. Coaching is truly one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs in professional sport.

Each year the NHL pays tribute to the coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success by awarding the Jack Adams Award. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association at the end of the regular season, with the winner receiving $1,000.

The award is named after one of organized hockey's most seasoned coaches, Jack Adams. Born and raised in Canada, Adams is best remembered for his devotion to hockey and his lengthy and successful affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings franchise.

When his own playing days ended, Adams turned to coaching, becoming the Coach and General Manager of the Detroit Cougars. Adams not only became one of the most winning coaches in Detroit history, he also pioneered the farm system in professional hockey and made a tradition of turning out winning teams in Michigan. During his 35-year tenure with Detroit, Adams garnered twelve league championships (seven of them in a row), won seven Stanley Cups, missed the playoffs only 7 times and was instrumental in starting Gordie Howe's professional career.

Adams was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959, and when New York presented the Lester Patrick Trophy to the NHL in 1966 to recognize outstanding service to hockey in the United States, Jack Adams was named the first recipient.

Adams became president of the Central Hockey League after his departure from Detroit and passed away in 1968. The NHL Broadcasters' Association presented The Jack Adams Award in 1974 to commemorate the man who, through his lifetime dedication to the game, has become an inspiration for all NHL coaches.

Only one Edmonton Oilers coach has been honoured with the Jack Adams Award, long-time coach and general manager Glen Sather. It is fitting that Sather, who spent the majority of his career with Edmonton, was presented the award as he and its namesake shared so many career parallels. Adams and Sather were both key components of their respective teams' successes. During his time with the OIlers, Sather lead the team behind the bench to 5 Stanley Cups and was instrumental in the shaping of the biggest superstar since Gordie Howe, a young phenom by the name of Wayne Gretzky. Sather won the Jack Adams award in 1986.