Pearn was fired along with Head Coach Tom Renney, on February 23, 2009 from his job as assistant coach of the Rangers. Pearn was in charge of the defensive units with the Rangers. Previously he was an assistant for the Ottawa Senators for eight seasons (1996-2004) and the Winnipeg Jets for the 1995-96 campaign. He was named assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens on July 6, 2009.