Steve Sullivan will become the 9th head coach in Toronto Marlies history, the team confirmed Thursday.

Sullivan spent the 2025-26 campaign as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was primarily tasked with overseeing the power play. Toronto fired assistant Derek Lalonde in December, and Sullivan’s hiring led to a direct improvement with the man advantage. He is considered one of hockey’s ascending coaches, and the Marlies’ appointment speaks to his stellar reputation among younger, developing players.

Mark Giordano has been promoted to assistant coach. Giordano joined the Marlies as a coaching advisor in October 2025, and this is the next step in his rising coaching career. The former Norris Trophy winner has been universally lauded for his communication, passion and pedigree with players, with a willingness to coach up the details and defensive skills needed to graduate to the professional ranks.

Goaltending coach Hannu Toivonen and video coach Nick Biamonte remain on Sullivan’s staff.

It’s been a whirlwind summer for the entire organization. Toronto won the Calder Cup, led by an outstanding performance from goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, with stellar offensive contributions from Vinni Lettieri, Easton Cowan and William Villeneuve among others. John Gruden was promoted from Marlies’ head coach, to an assistant under Jim Hiller with the Maple Leafs. Daniel Alfredsson will serve as Toronto’s associate coach, while Brad Werenka rounds out the Leafs’ bench.

Gruden previously told Leafs Morning Take that he didn’t interview for the Maple Leafs’ head coaching vacancy, while Bruce Boudreau endorsed him as a potential NHL head coach.

Sullivan recorded 290 goals and 747 points in 1,011 NHL games, and he’s widely respected for his offensive acumen, communication and power play tactics. It will be compelling to see Sullivan oversee a Marlies group that won the Calder Cup, but will also have several graduates to the NHL this season.