D.J. Smith

D. J. Smith was hired as the 14th head coach in Senators franchise history on May 23, 2019.

Prior to his arrival in Ottawa, Smith spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach on Mike Babcock's staff with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was named an assistant coach in Toronto ahead of the 2015-16 campaign after leading the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals to the 2015 Memorial Cup title.

In three seasons as Generals' head coach, Smith compiled a record of 135-53-3-13 and was recognized as the OHL's Coach of the Year after guiding the Generals to a 42-20-0-6 record in 2013-14. The following season, Oshawa concluded the year with a record of 51-11-2-4 before winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup by way of defeating Erie in five games in the league's Championship series. Oshawa later captured the 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup via a 2-1 overtime win over the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets in the tournament finale in Quebec City.

Prior to being hired in Oshawa, Smith spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires. During his tenure in Windsor, the Spitfires captured back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 2009 and 2010.

As a player, Smith was drafted in the second round (41st overall) by the New York Islanders in the 1995 NHL Draft. A defenceman, he appeared in 45 career NHL games with both the Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche registering two points (one goal, one assist) and 67 penalty minutes.

Smith also spent parts of nine seasons in the American Hockey League with the St. John's Maple Leafs and the Hershey Bears. A native of Windsor, Ont., Smith played his junior hockey with his hometown Spitfires from 1994-97.

An off-season resident of Tecumseh, Ont., Smith is married to wife, Christie, and has two sons, Colton and Brock.