A Homecoming for a Hockey Veteran
Josh Sciba has been named the first head coach of PWHL Detroit, the franchise that will make its debut in the 2026‑27 season. The announcement coincides with the league’s preparations to launch its inaugural campaign, and Sciba will be charged with shaping the team’s identity from the outset.
A Westland native, Sciba brings more than 15 years of coaching experience to the role. His career has spanned multiple levels of women’s hockey, including stints with the U.S. Olympic and National Women’s Teams, as well as positions at Union College, Colgate University and Niagara University.
Building on Detroit’s Hockey Legacy
Sciba’s most recent role was as an assistant coach for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s New York Sirens, a position he assumed after guiding the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team to a gold‑medal victory in Milan. He has been a fixture with the U.S. Women’s National Team since 2022, contributing to multiple IIHF World Championship medals, and he previously coached the Under‑18 women’s squad that captured gold in 2020.
Before entering coaching, Sciba played for the University of Notre Dame’s men’s hockey program and graduated in 2007. That background gives him a deep connection to the collegiate hockey landscape and a nuanced understanding of player development.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Sciba said he is excited to lead a hometown team and to build on Detroit’s rich hockey legacy. He aims to create a competitive and inspiring program for the league’s first season, leveraging the city’s passionate fan base and historic sports culture.
The new franchise will open its home games at Little Caesars Arena in the fall, a venue that has already become a cultural hub for Detroit’s sports fans. The arena’s state‑of‑the‑art facilities are expected to provide an excellent environment for the team’s debut and future growth.