DETROIT, July 8 (UPI) -- The Detroit Red Wings have decided to make a coaching change and did not renew Dave Lewis's contract when it expired June 30, a report said.
Lewis, 52, has been with the Red Wings for 18 seasons as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He succeeded coach Scotty Bowman who retired.
WLNS-TV, Lansing, Friday said it had confirmed Lewis would be officially relieved of his duties amid published reports the Wings were considering offering the head coaching position to Mike Babcock.
Babcock recently turned down a one-year contract with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, who reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003, according to The Sports Network.
Lewis won 48 games in back-to-back seasons but had little success in the playoffs, losing in the first and second rounds in 2003 and 2004.
