Desjardins passes Mike Johnston for 9th all-time in coach wins

By JAMES TUBB on December 16, 2025.

The Medicine Hat Tigers’ winningest coach continues to climb the WHL’s all-time ranks.

Head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins tallied career win No. 544 on Saturday with a 10-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. The win moves him to ninth on the all-time wins list, passing Portland Winterhawks president and general manager Mike Johnston.

“He’s a great coach and a really, really good friend of mine,” Desjardins said. “I have tons of respect for him and it’s good to win.”

Desjardins is four wins away from eighth, held by Ernie “Punch” McLean who tallied 548 wins behind the bench for the Estevan/New Westminster Bruins across 14 seasons.

Mike Williamson, former coach of the Winterhawks, Calgary Hitmen and Tri-City Americans, is seventh with 572 wins.

Kelowna Rockets’ associate coach Don Hay holds the WHL record with 752 wins with Tri-City, Kamloops and Vancouver.