Providence Bruins Tab Kevin Dean As Head Coach, Replacing Bruce Cassidy

Former Providence Bruins assistant coach Kevin Dean has been promoted to head coach of the Boston Bruins’ American Hockey League affiliate, the team announced Monday.

Dean, a P-Bruins assistant for the last five seasons, replaces Bruce Cassidy, who left Providence earlier this offseason to take a job on Boston coach Claude Julien’s staff.

Dean played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire from 1987 to 1991, then began a seven-year NHL career that included stints with the New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks.

The 47-year-old transitioned to coaching in 2006, spending four seasons as an assistant with the AHL’s Lowell Devils and one as head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Devils before landing in Providence in 2011.

“(Bruins general manager Don Sweeney) offered me the job on Friday, and I eagerly accepted,” Dean told Mark Divver of The Providence Jounal. “I’m excited, a little daunted, but not really. More excited.

“It’s a big job. I understand where the Bruins want to get to. All those pieces that will be coming through Providence in the next little while will be important.’’

Thumbnail photo via Zack Cox/NESN.com