We now know how the 2026-27 Coachella Valley Firebirds will look.
Following the 2026 NHL entry draft and weeks of free agency, which saw Coachella Valley retain most of its free agents, the Firebirds filled a hole in their coaching staff this week by hiring NHL assistant Scott Ford. The 46-year-old comes to the Coachella Valley from the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he was an assistant coach for the last two years.
Ford replaces departed assistant coach Stu Bickel, who left to become the head coach of the Iowa Wild.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Firebirds organization and become part of what has been built in the Coachella Valley,” said Ford, a Fort St. John, British Columbia native. “This is a first-class organization with a strong culture and a clear commitment to developing players while competing to win every night. My family and I are grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”
The Firebirds begin the 2026-27 season on Oct. 2. against the Ontario Reign inside Acrisure Arena.
Ford will replace Bickel as the primary defensive coach for the Firebirds, having a reputation for developing defensive players and for running penalty-kill systems. In Columbus, Ford was in charge of the NHL club’s penalty-kill units while also leading the team’s defensive play.
Prior to joining Columbus, Ford spent nine seasons coaching in the American Hockey League, including eight with the Milwaukee Admirals and one with the Chicago Wolves. Ford was on the Admiral’s staff when they faced the Firebirds in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
Prior to his coaching career, Ford played professionally from 2004-15. He skated in 522 career AHL regular season games with the Cleveland Barons, Providence Bruins, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Milwaukee Admirals, and Peoria Rivermen. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound defenseman served as captain of the Admirals during the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons before retiring following the 2014-15 campaign.
“We’re thrilled to add Scott to our coaching staff,” Firebirds General Manager Troy Bodie said. “He’s a tremendous teacher of the game who has earned the respect of players and coaches throughout professional hockey.”
Ford began his coaching career with Milwaukee (in the Nashville Predators organization) in 2015-16, serving on then head coach Dean Evason’s staff before remaining behind the Admirals’ bench under current head coach Karl Taylor. Following the 2020-21 season in Chicago, Ford returned to Milwaukee for three additional seasons before earning his first NHL coaching opportunity with Columbus in 2024.
When he began his coaching career, former Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton specifically highlighted Ford’s leadership and ability to work with young players as major reasons to hire him immediately following his playing career.
Beyond the blue line, Ford has since become known for organizing team defense, for defensive zone coverage, puck management and ensuring players understand where to be within that structure. The NHL Coaches’ Association notes that he works well with both defensemen and forwards, with an emphasis on one-on-one instruction as a hallmark of his coaching philosophy.
Ford inherits a talented but very young group of blueliners in the Coachella Valley. Tyson Jugnauth, who turned 22 earlier this year, was an all-star last season. Ty Nelson, 22, and Charlie Wright will be entering their third pro seasons. Ville Ottavainen, who’ll be 24 before the start of the season, was just re-signed. Lukas Dragicevic, Caden Price and Kaden Hammell each just completed their rookie seasons, and 20-year-old Alex Bernier will play his first year of pro hockey this season.
Despite reaching the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Firebirds were only tied for 10th in the conference in penalty kill percentage during the 2025-26 regular season.
“Scott understands what it takes to develop players, compete every day, and build a winning culture,” Bodie said. Those qualities align perfectly with what we’re striving for in Coachella Valley, and we’re excited to have him on board.”
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds hire NHL assistant Scott Ford to tighten up defense
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
