The Red Wings needed less than a week to select a new coach for their top farm team.
Former assistant coach Ben Simon was promoted to the lead position Tuesday, taking over for Todd Nelson. Nelson left May 31 to take an assistant coaching position in the NHL with the Dallas Stars.
Simon, 39, spent three seasons as assistant to Nelson, helping guide the Griffins to the 2017 Calder Cup championship. That was the second time in five years the Griffins won the AHL championship, also doing so in 2013 under Red Wings' Jeff Blashill.
More Red Wings:
The Griffins weren’t able to defend their 2017 title, bowing out in five games in the first round this spring.