Dave Manson Named Head Coach of San Diego Gulls

The Anaheim Ducks named Dave Manson head coach of the San Diego Gulls on Monday, promoting the 59-year-old assistant who helped guide the AHL club to the playoffs last season.

Manson becomes the sixth head coach in Gulls AHL history. He joined San Diego as an assistant in 2025-26, overseeing the defense and penalty kill. Under his guidance, the Gulls posted an 83.5% penalty kill rate, eighth among all AHL clubs, and accumulated just 749 penalty minutes, second-fewest in the league.

"After helping lead the Gulls to the playoffs last season, it was clear Dave made a big impact behind the bench," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said, according to nhl.com. "Dave brings nearly 25 years of coaching experience, and he will help strengthen the standard of excellence and development we have established in San Diego as head coach."

Manson replaces Matt McIlvane, who left to join the Boston Bruins as an assistant coach last month. The Gulls reached the postseason for the first time since 2021-22.

Kelly Buchberger and Steve McCarthy were named assistant coaches, joining goaltending coach Jeff Glass and video coordinator Lucas Hurtt on Manson's staff.

Manson spent the 2024-25 season as an assistant with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL before joining San Diego. He previously worked four AHL seasons with the Bakersfield Condors from 2018-22, helping develop defensemen including Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg and Vincent Desharnais. He was promoted to the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant in February 2022 and remained through 2024, helping the club reach the 2022 Western Conference Final.

This marks Manson's first head coaching role at the professional level.