Robert Emile Francis (born December 5, 1958) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player and coach.
[1] After head coaching stints in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Saint John Flames and Providence Bruins, Francis spent two years at the NHL level as an assistant coach to Pat Burns of the Boston Bruins before being hired by the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999.
[2] Midway through his fifth season at the helm of the Coyotes in 2004, Francis was fired after a slow start and replaced by assistant coach Rick Bowness.
[3] On April 26, 2006, Francis signed a two-year contract to coach HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga.
Francis also revealed his struggle with alcoholism, which played a key factor in his dismissal from HIFK.