Hockey Staff
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MIKE YEO Assistant Coach Mike Yeo joined the Penguins’ coaching staff when former head coach Michel Therrien was named head coach in December, 2005, and is now in his fifth season as an assistant. Yeo, among his many responsibilities, works with the Penguins' defensemen and power-play units. Starting in 2006, Yeo helped lay the foundation for the success of the past three seasons, which include an Atlantic Division title, two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a Stanley Cup championship. Yeo, 36, began his coaching career at just 26 years old with the Penguins' top minor-league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In six seasons with Wilkes-Barre, Yeo helped the Penguins earn a Western Conference title (2001), an Eastern Conference title (2005) and two berths in the Calder Cup Final. In 2005, Wilkes-Barre set an AHL record for the best start to a season by boasting a 21-1-2-1 record with 15 straight wins before Yeo was promoted to Pittsburgh. In 2006-07, his first full season in Pittsburgh, Yeo helped lead the Penguins to a 47-point improvement, the fourth-biggest turnaround in NHL history from one year to the next, and earn their first trip to the playoffs since 2001. Just one year later, he coached the Penguins to their first Eastern Conference championship since 1992. In 2008-09, Yeo directed the Penguins to their third Stanley Cup title in franchise history. The native of North Bay, Ontario played six seasons with Wilkes-Barre and the Houston Aeros of the now-defunct International Hockey League. Yeo captained the Aeros to the Turner Cup championship in 1999. Mike and his wife, Tanya, are the parents of two children and reside in the North Hills. |
