After six years behind the bench as head coach of the Portland Pirates, Kevin Dineen is finally getting an opportunity to ply his trade in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers have set a 3pm press conference at the BankAtlantic Center on Wednesday where Dineen will be named the 11th coach in franchise history.

Dineen, 47, won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach, as voted by members of the media, in his first season behind the bench after guiding the Pirates to just one win away from a berth in the Calder Cup finals.

Dineen was hired by former Anaheim Ducks General Manager Brian Burke in the summer of 2005 to help develop their prospects after moving they moved their affiliation from Cincinnati to Portland. Dineen steered his squad to Eastern Conference Final appearances in two of his first three years behind the bench under the Ducks affiliation. In 2008, when the Anaheim Ducks left for Des Moines, Iowa, Dineen remained in Portland after being hired by the Buffalo Sabres.

During that time, Dineen has cultivated numerous players for the NHL including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Dustin Penner as well as the last three AHL Rookies of the Year in Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis and Luke Adam.

In his six years behind the bench, Dineen posted a 266-155-59 record with a .616 win percentage, making him the winningest coach in Pirates franchise history.

He was a finalist for the Columbus Blue Jackets head coaching position last season before they ultimately hired Scott Arniel.

Dineen is replacing former Kitchen Rangers head coach Pete DeBoer, who was fired the day after the Panthers season finale. DeBoer spent three seasons behind the Florida bench.