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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Sports Desk • Hockey

Jon Cooper

Jon Cooper is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey coach and the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Jon Cooper is a Canadian-American ice hockey coach and the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has won two Stanley Cups and is the longest-tenured coach in the NHL.

What it is

Jon Cooper is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey coach, born August 23, 1967, in Prince George, British Columbia. He has been the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL since March 2013.

Why it matters

Cooper has led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, making him one of the most successful active coaches. He is also the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL and has been selected to coach Canada's men's team at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Key details

Before joining the NHL, Cooper coached in junior and minor-pro hockey, including stops in Texarkana, St. Louis, Green Bay, Norfolk, and Syracuse. He did not have a notable professional playing career; he played high school hockey in Saskatchewan and later focused on coaching. He holds dual Canadian-American citizenship.

In short

  • Born in Prince George, British Columbia.
  • Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2013.
  • Won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021.
  • Will coach Canada internationally at the 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics.
Canadian angle

Cooper was born in Prince George, British Columbia, is Canadian-American, and has coached Canada’s men’s team in international competition.[4][8][12]

Quick questions

Who is Jon Cooper?
Jon Cooper is a Canadian-American ice hockey coach and the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL.
How many Stanley Cups has Jon Cooper won?
He has won two Stanley Cups as a head coach, in 2020 and 2021 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
What is Jon Cooper's connection to Canada?
Cooper was born in Prince George, British Columbia, is a Canadian-American dual citizen, and has been named to coach Canada's men's national team in international tournaments.

Sources

  1. The Hockey Writers — https://thehockeywriters.com/docs/jon-cooper/
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, NHL head coach of Tampa Bay Lightning, Stanley Cup in 2020, longest-tenured NHL coach.
  2. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/news/jon-cooper-on-coaching-team-canada-in-4-nations-faceoff
    Supports: Canadian roots, coaching timeline, age reference, Stanley Cup titles, Team Canada coaching role.
  3. USA Hockey — https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/774423-usa-hockey-experience-propels-jon-cooper-up-through-coaching-ranks
    Supports: Dual citizen status, high school hockey in Saskatchewan, coaching background.
  4. NHL.com / Tampa Bay Lightning — https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/a-wild-adventure-coach-jon-cooper-hits-1-000-nhl-games-with-lightning
    Supports: Hiring timeline, AHL to NHL progression, career wins, one-franchise tenure.
  5. The Globe and Mail — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/article-coach-jon-cooper-olympic-mens-hockey-milan-cortina-winter-games/
    Supports: Coaching style described as meticulous and strategic, international coaching role.
  6. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/366/jon-cooper
    Supports: Date of birth, birthplace, age, nationality, coaching appointment details.