There are certainly a lot of comparisons between the New York Jets and the New York Islanders. Both play second fiddle to organizations with a long and celebrated history, both have failed to hoist trophies in decades and both have long hired rookie head coaches, until now.
Lou Lamoriello pounced once Barry Trotz resigned as Washington Capitals head coach and signed the Stanley Cup-winning head coach to a five-year-deal. You have to go way back, over 20 years, for this kind of organizational-changing hire in New York sports.
Back in 1997, the Jets, coming off a 1-15 season the season before and three wins in the Rich Kotite era, hired Bill Parcells as head coach.