Jean-François Houle

Jean-François Houle (born January 14, 1975) is a Canadian former ice hockey player and current professional coach. He is presently the head coach of the Clarkson Golden Knights, a team competing in the ECAC Hockey conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).^[1][2]

Jean-François Houle
Born	(1975-01-14) January 14, 1975 (age 50) Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Right
Played for	AHL Fredericton Canadiens Cincinnati Mighty Ducks ECHL New Orleans Brass Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
NHL draft	99th overall, 1993 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	1997–2002 Coaching career
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Clarkson
Conference	ECAC Hockey
Biographical details
Alma mater	Clarkson University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2010	Clarkson (asst.)
2010–2011	Lewiston MAINEiacs
2011–2014	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
2014–2021	Bakersfield Condors (asst.)
2021–2024	Laval Rocket
2024–present	Clarkson
Head coaching record
Overall	24–12–3 (.654)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Tim Taylor Award (2025)

Collegiate career

Houle attended Clarkson University, where he competed at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey team. During his time there, he developed his skills and gained valuable experience, which led to his selection by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He was picked in the fourth round as the 99th overall choice.^[3]

Coaching career

In 2002, after concluding a five-year professional playing career, Houle returned to the Clarkson Golden Knights to serve as an assistant coach. In 2010, he became the head coach of the Lewiston MAINEiacs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and the following season, he took on the same role with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.^[4]

Houle served as the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors in their final season in the ECHL.^[5] Following that, he was hired by the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant coach for their relocated AHL affiliate, which became the Bakersfield Condors in 2015.^[6] He held that position until 2021, when he transitioned to the Laval Rocket.^[7]

Personal life

Houle is the son of Réjean Houle, a notable figure in hockey who spent many years as a forward with the Montreal Canadiens before transitioning into a leadership role as the team's general manager.^[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–94	Clarkson University	ECAC		34	6	19	25	20		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Clarkson University	ECAC		34	8	11	19	42		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Clarkson University	ECAC		38	14	14	28	46		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Clarkson University	ECAC		37	21	37	58	40		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	New Orleans Brass	ECHL		53	25	37	62	119		4	1	1	2	16
1997–98	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL		7	1	0	1	8		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL		62	7	22	29	101		12	1	7	8	10
1999–00	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Tallahassee Tiger Sharks	ECHL		55	18	30	48	71		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Tallahassee Tiger Sharks	ECHL		56	12	34	46	92		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	New Orleans Brass	ECHL		52	21	25	46	106		1	0	0	0	0
AHL Totals				72	8	22	30	111		12	1	7	8	10
ECHL Totals				216	76	126	202	388		5	1	1	2	16
NCAA Totals				143	49	81	130	148		—	—	—	—	—

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC Hockey) (2024–present)
2024–25	Clarkson	24–12–3	15–6–1	2nd	ECAC Runner-up
Clarkson:		24–12–3	15–6–1
Total:		24–12–3
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
College
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team	1994	[9]
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team	1997	[10]
QMJHL
Ron Lapointe Trophy - QMJHL Coach of the Year	2012	[11]