The PWHL San Jose has named the first member of its front office. The league announced today that Troy Ryan will serve as both the general manager and head coach of the new expansion team. This is the first time ever that the league has had someone serve in a dual capacity. Ryan has a history with the PWHL, most recently serving as the head coach of the Toronto Sceptres for the first three seasons of the league. In the league’s press release, he said he’s ready to build something special in San Jose.
“I’m honored and incredibly excited to help build this organization in San Jose,” said Ryan. “Expansion creates a rare opportunity to shape everything with intention from the standards and culture to the people and connection to the community. We want to build a team that plays with purpose, represents The Bay Area with pride, and helps to continue to grow women’s hockey on the West Coast. We know there is a lot of work ahead, and that is exactly what makes this opportunity so special.”
The league believes that Ryan’s experience in the PWHL makes him the ideal candidate to grow the San Jose market.
“Troy has a keen understanding of what it takes to build and lead a high-performing team, and his diverse set of experiences and competitive spirit make him a strong fit to hold the dual role of General Manager and Coach in San Jose,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Ryan’s experience prior to coming to San Jose
Ryan was named the Coach of the Year in 2024, the PWHL’s inaugural season. The Sceptres finished first in the league that first season, though lost in the PWHL semi-finals.
Ryan also served nine years with Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team, including the last six years as the team’s head coach. He led Team Canada to Olympic gold in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and won three IIHF Women’s World Championship titles (2021, 2022, and 2024). He was also behind the bench in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, when Canada won silver.
Before coaching the PWHL and Canada’s National Women’s Team, Ryan coached at the university and junior hockey levels. He was the head coach of Dalhousie University’s women’s hockey team from 2020-23.
In his playing days, he played defense for the Halifax Mooseheads in the Maritime Junior Hockey League and the University of New Brunswick and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.
