The Hershey Bears will have a new head coach behind the bench in 2025-26, and similar to the man they’re replacing, he comes with some NHL head coaching experience.

Derek King was named the 29th head coach in Bears history in a Monday announcement from the team. He comes to the club after spending the previous four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, including a stint as the interim head coach.

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He replaces Todd Nelson, who won two Calder Cups with the Bears before departing for an assistant coaching job with the Pittsburgh Penguins, leaving awfully big shoes to fill.

King has also been a head coach at the AHL level, spending parts of four seasons behind the bench of the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ affiliate. He also served as an assistant coach for Rockford, the Toronto Marlies and started his coaching career as a player-coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

As a player, King has 830 career NHL games under his belt, producing 612 points in a 14-year playing career. He also spent 171 games in the AHL, beginning and ending his playing career in the league.

“In his accomplished coaching career, Derek has developed a reputation as a great communicator who excels at developing hockey players and getting the best out of them,” said Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer. “It is critical for us to have a head coach who is an excellent teacher for his players and staff while fostering a winning culture. We look forward to welcoming Derek and his family to Hershey and we feel he is the best fit to lead our hockey club.”

King has spent the last 18 years behind a bench in some capacity. He’ll be expected to help bring along the Washington Capitals prospects that play for the Bears, but the fans in Hershey will be expecting a winner as they so often do.

From the bench boss himself: pic.twitter.com/9cXivaPHY0

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) August 4, 2025

“Knowing what Hershey is about within the American Hockey League, I’m ecstatic – I equate it to getting a job with an Original Six team in the NHL,” King said in a statement. “My family and I are excited, and I can’t wait to get down there and get to work, and hopefully be a part of continuing the club’s storied legacy.”

The club also announced that assistant coaches Patrick Wellar and Nick Bootland will remain on staff, as will goalie coach Juha Lehtola, video coach Adam Purner and strength coach Kurtis Freter.

Hershey has seen several veteran players move on to other opportunities and will likely have a somewhat younger team in 2025-26, but it will be an exciting one. A number of high-end Capitals prospects will likely be part of the team including WHL scoring sensation Andrew Cristall.

The Bears open the 2025-26 season on home ice against the Syracuse Crunch on Oct. 11.

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