By Taylor Rocca via Western Hockey League

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Red Deer Rebels Head Coach Marc Habscheid is the latest WHL bench boss to reach 600 wins.

The product of Swift Current, Sask., became the sixth coach in WHL history to reach the mark when his Rebels edged the Prince George Cougars by a 3-2 score Tuesday, February 3, at CN Centre.

Habscheid, who is in his first season as Head Coach of the Rebels, joins Kamloops Blazers Head Coach Shaun Clouston (612) and Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Don Nachbaur (732) as the three active coaches to have reached the 600-win plateau. Most recently, Clouston surpassed 600 wins Friday, November 29, 2025, with a 5-4 victory over the Spokane Chiefs, while Nachbaur surpassed 700 wins on November 20, 2024, in a 5-4 triumph over the Kelowna Rockets.

In addition to Habscheid, Clouston, and Nachbaur three other coaches have collected 600 wins or more over the course of WHL history – Don Hay (752), Ken Hodge (742), and Lorne Molleken (626). The next active WHL head coach chasing 600 wins is Medicine Hat Tigers bench boss Willie Desjardins, who stands at 557 wins prior to Wednesday, February 4.

Habscheid’s time in the WHL started on the ice as a player. A centre during his playing days, Habscheid spent parts of four seasons (1979-80 to 1982-83) with the Saskatoon Blades and Kamloops Jr. Oilers, tallying 276 points (107G-169A) in 148 regular season games. In 1981, he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round (113th overall) of the NHL Draft and went on to enjoy a lengthy professional career, including 345 career NHL games.

Upon the conclusion of his playing career at the end of the 1995-96 season, Habscheid spent one season as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melfort Mustangs before becoming General Manager and Head Coach of the Kamloops Blazers ahead of the 1997-98 season. Following two seasons in Kamloops, Habscheid joined the Kelowna Rockets as General Manager and Head Coach, enjoying five campaigns in the Okanagan (1999-00 to 2003-04), which featured WHL Coach of the Year honours and a WHL Championship in 2002-03, along with a Memorial Cup title in 2003-04.

After three seasons away from the WHL, Habscheid returned to his roots in 2009-10, becoming General Manager and Head Coach of the Chilliwack Bruins. He remained with the franchise through its first season in Victoria in 2011-12.

In 2014-15, Habscheid was named Head Coach of the Prince Albert Raiders midway through the season. He held that position of eight seasons, winning his second Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year in 2018-19, all while guiding the Raiders to a WHL Championship.

In this his 19th season as a WHL head coach, Habscheid has strung together a record of 600-483-132. Habscheid was named the 10th head coach in Rebels team history on June 5, 2025.

In addition to his success behind WHL benches, Habscheid has served Canada internationally on numerous occasions, including earning back-to-back silver medals at the 2002 and 2003 IIHF World Junior Championships, a gold medal at the 2004 IIHF World Championship, and a silver medal at the 2005 IIHF World Championship, before serving as an assistant coach for Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

This season, Habscheid and the Rebels are entrenched in a battle for playoff positioning in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Heading into Wednesday action, the Rebels sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, trailing the seventh-place Moose Jaw Warriors (18-24-4-2) by two points, while sitting two points ahead of the ninth-place Regina Pats (16-24-5-1).

Next up, Habscheid and the Rebels return home to host the Warriors on Saturday, February 7 at 6 p.m. MT. Watch all the action FREE on Victory+.

Winningest Coaches, WHL History

1. Don Hay – 752
2. Ken Hodge – 742
3. Don Nachbaur – 732
4. Lorne Molleken – 626
5. Shaun Clouston – 612
6. Marc Habscheid – 600
7. Mike Williamson – 572
8. Ernie McLean – 548
9. Mike Johnston – 543
10. Willie Desjardins – 557