Joel Quenneville hired by Ducks for 1st head coaching job since sex abuse scandal

Joel Quenneville is returning to the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks for his first head coaching job since the second-winningest coach in league history resigned and was banned for his handling of a sexual assault scandal.

The 66-year-old Quenneville was hired by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek on Thursday for his first coaching job since his resignation from the Florida Panthers 3 ½ years ago in the wake of his handling of the sexual assault scandal during his tenure with Chicago. 

Verbeek called the move "a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender" and said the team had done its due diligence.

"Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates, while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of [Chicago] in 2010," he said. "Our findings are consistent with Joel's account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching."

Quenneville and Chicago executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were banned from the NHL for nearly three years after an independent investigation concluded that the team mishandled allegations raised by former player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's Stanley Cup run in 2010. The trio was reinstated last July, and Bowman became the Edmonton Oilers' general manager three weeks later.

WATCH | Kyle Beach 'overwhelmed' by support: 

Kyle Beach ‘overwhelmed’ by support after sharing sexual assault story

Quenneville said he was "truly