# Matt Leyden Trophy

The Matt Leyden Trophy is awarded annually to the Ontario Hockey League Coach of the Year. The award is chosen by fellow OHL general managers. Teams were not permitted to vote for a coach from their own hockey club. Coaches receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote. Winners of the award are also nominated for the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award for the Canadian Hockey League.
It is named in honour of Matt Leyden, a former president of the Ontario Hockey Association, and long-time general manager of the Oshawa Generals. Leyden established the Generals dynasty that won seven consecutive J. Ross Robertson Cups and three Memorial Cups between 1937 and 1944.

## Winners

List of winners of the Matt Leyden Trophy.
* Blue background denotes also named Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
| Season | Coach | Team |
| 1971–72 | Gus Bodnar | Oshawa Generals |
| 1972–73 | George Armstrong | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1973–74 | Jack Bownass | Kingston Canadians |
| 1974–75 | Bert Templeton | Hamilton Fincups |
| 1975–76 | Jerry Toppazzini | Sudbury Wolves |
| 1976–77 | Bill Long | London Knights |
| 1977–78 | Bill White | Oshawa Generals |
| 1978–79 | Gary Green | Peterborough Petes |
| 1979–80 | Dave Chambers | Toronto Marlboros |
| 1980–81 | Brian Kilrea | Ottawa 67's |
| 1981–82 | Brian Kilrea | Ottawa 67's |
| 1982–83 | Terry Crisp | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1983–84 | Tom Barrett | Kitchener Rangers |
| 1984–85 | Terry Crisp | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 1985–86 | Jacques Martin | Guelph Platers |
| 1986–87 | Paul Theriault | Oshawa Generals |
| 1987–88 | Dick Todd | Peterborough Petes |
| 1988–89 | Joe McDonnell | Kitchener Rangers |
| 1989–90 | Larry Mavety | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 1990–91 | George Burnett | Niagara Falls Thunder |
| 1991–92 | George Burnett | Niagara Falls Thunder |
| 1992–93 | Gary Agnew | London Knights |
| 1993–94 | Bert Templeton | North Bay Centennials |
| 1994–95 | Craig Hartsburg | Guelph Storm |
| 1995–96 | Brian Kilrea | Ottawa 67's |
| 1996–97 | Brian Kilrea | Ottawa 67's |
| 1997–98 | Gary Agnew | London Knights |
| 1998–99 | Peter DeBoer | Plymouth Whalers |
| 1999–2000 | Peter DeBoer | Plymouth Whalers |
| 2000–01 | Dave MacQueen | Erie Otters |
| 2001–02 | Craig Hartsburg | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 2002–03 | Brian Kilrea | Ottawa 67's |
| 2003–04 | Dale Hunter | London Knights |
| 2004–05 | Dale Hunter | London Knights |
| 2005–06 | Dave Barr | Guelph Storm |
| 2006–07 | Mike Vellucci | Plymouth Whalers |
| 2007–08 | Bob Boughner | Windsor Spitfires |
| 2008–09 | Bob Boughner | Windsor Spitfires |
| 2009–10 | Dale Hunter | London Knights |
| 2010–11 | Mark Reeds | Owen Sound Attack |
| 2011–12 | Greg Gilbert | Saginaw Spirit |
| 2012–13 | Mike Vellucci | Plymouth Whalers |
| 2013–14 | D.J. Smith | Oshawa Generals |
| 2014–15 | Sheldon Keefe | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 2015–16 | Kris Knoblauch | Erie Otters |
| 2016–17 | Ryan McGill | Owen Sound Attack |
| 2017–18 | Drew Bannister | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 2018–19 | André Tourigny | Ottawa 67's |
| 2019–20 | André Tourigny | Ottawa 67's |
| 2020–21 | Not awarded, season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Not awarded, season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | James Richmond | Mississauga Steelheads |
| 2022–23 | Dave Cameron | Ottawa 67's |
| 2023–24 | Derek Laxdal | Oshawa Generals |