Mark French (ice hockey)

A native of Milton, Ontario, French played college hockey at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, serving as assistant captain for three years there and received the prestigious "212 Degrees" annual award all four seasons, presented to the athlete who demonstrates leadership, commitment and excellence on the ice.

Prior to his assistant coaching duties with Hershey, he was the head coach at Wilfrid Laurier University from 2002–04 and was head coach and director of hockey operations for the Wichita Thunder (CHL) from 2005-07. French also coached in the ECHL with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies during the 2004-05 season, walking the bench as assistant coach as the Bullies posted a 42-21-9 record.

He became an assistant with the Bears in January 2008, and was named the franchise's 23rd head coach in 2009 following the promotion of Bob Woods to Washington. In his first season, French guided the Bears to an AHL record 60 wins and the team's eleventh Calder Cup. French coached in Hershey for four seasons, compiling a 180-100-32 record. He currently ranks third in AHL history in winning percentage among coaches with at least 300 games.[1]

In June 2013, French took the head coaching position for the newly-formed KHL Medveščak Zagreb of the Kontinental Hockey League.

French left Medveščak Zagreb after one season for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League in June 2014.[2]

On May 28, 2017, French became the head coach of HC Fribourg-Gottéron, signing a two-year deal with the NLA team.

On June 8, 2020, French became the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins.[3]

He lives in Calgary with his wife Kimberly. They have two children, Ellie and William.

• Mark French career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database