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The Columbus Blue Jackets have extended head coach Rick Bowness's contract for the 2026-27 season after a successful run. Bowness led the team to a 21-11-5 record in his first 37 games as head coach.
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Blue Jackets hand coach Rick Bowness a contract extension following passionate rant originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have inked head coach Rick Bowness to a contract extension, and he will be back behind the bench for the 2026-27 campaign.
After finishing the passing season as the bench boss of the Blue Jackets, GM Don Waddel announced on Thursday that Bowness is returning on a one-year contract.
The 71-year-old coach was brought in to replace Dean Evason in January. Since coming in, Bowness coached Columbus for 37 games and mustered up quite a record in his short stint.
In those 37 outings to end the campaign, the Blue Jackets registered a 21-11-5 mark. In fact, since Bowness’ first game behind Columbus’ bench on Jan. 13, the Blue Jackets have been a top-10 team in the NHL.
Columbus was last in the Eastern Conference when Bowness arrived, but his presence and influence behind the bench lifted his team into the playoff race during March and April.
Despite an incredible run with Bowness behind the bench, including a seven-game winning streak not long after he came in, the Blue Jackets ended the year on a sour note.
MORE: Blue Jackets Coach Rick Bowness Rips Into Team After Season Finale
In the final 11 games of the regular season, Columbus was actually the second-worst team in the NHL; only the Toronto Maple Leafs were worse. The Blue Jackets registered an 8-11-2 record to close out their playoff push, and Bowness voiced his displeasure after their last game of the season on Tuesday.
Their season finale ended in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, followed by an angry, passionate media availability from Bowness. He called out the team’s effort and lack of care in the final game of the season.
Rick Bowness's contract extension with the Blue Jackets is for one year, covering the 2026-27 season.
Under Rick Bowness's coaching, the Blue Jackets achieved a record of 21 wins, 11 losses, and 5 overtime losses in 37 games.
Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in January.

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“These guys, they don’t care,” Bowness said of his players after Tuesday’s game. “Losing is not important to them.
“This is why we’re out of the playoffs,” he said. “Losing, you have to hate losing, I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game,” he added.
Now, with a full off-season and 2026-27 campaign ahead of him, Bowness and his players will be on the same page from start to finish and intend to get into the post-season.