PHOENIX -- Marty McSorley, whose NHL career ended in a one-year suspension for hitting an opponent in the head with his stick, was hired Sunday as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes' top farm club.

McSorley was picked to lead the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League after a 17-year NHL career in which his penalty minutes (3,381) outnumbered his points (359) almost 10-to-1.

McSorley played in 961 games for Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Los Angeles, the New York Rangers, San Jose and Boston. While with the Bruins, McSorley was suspended for a year for hitting Vancouver's Donald Brashear on the side of the head with his stick in 2000. Brashear was knocked unconscious and missed 20 games with a severe concussion.

McSorley never played again in the NHL. He played 11 games for Grand Rapids of the IHL before retiring March 13, 2001, when it became apparent no NHL would pick him up following the end of his suspension.

McSorley said he was excited to return to work as a coach.

"I had to do a lot of work to stay in the league as a player, and I plan on doing the same thing with the kids I'm going to be teaching,'' he said.