Sutter's final season in San Jose came only months after agreeing to a new one-year contract from the Sharks. On December 1, 2002, Sutter along with assistant coaches Lorne Molleken and Rich Preston, was fired just 24 games into the 2002–03 season. At that point in the season Sutter had accumulated a record of 8–12–2–2, and would also be the first time in his professional career as a player or coach in which he failed to make the playoffs. His dismissal as head coach came weeks after earning his 300th career NHL coaching victory on November 16 in a 7–3 win against the Florida Panthers. Ron Wilson was hired by the Sharks four days later as head coach.