It’s the end of an era at Notre Dame, as longtime Fighting Irish hockey head coach Jeff Jackson has announced that the upcoming season will be his last.
On Monday afternoon, Jackson revealed his plans to step down as head coach of the Irish following the 2024-25 season. He will be succeeded by current Notre Dame associate head coach Brock Sheahan.
“I have decided that this coming season, my 20th at Notre Dame, will be my last,” Jackson stated in a news release. “I plan to celebrate my final year at Notre Dame by doing what I love: fully embracing coaching this great game at this incredible university, surrounded by a fantastic staff and good friends, for one more season. Most importantly, I feel privileged to work with some incredible student-athletes pursuing their dreams.”
Jackson, who will enter next season as the winningest active coach in Division I men’s ice hockey with 589 victories, transformed Notre Dame into a perennial powerhouse after taking over the program in 2005-06.
Under his leadership, the Irish have reached the Frozen Four four times, making the national title game twice. His teams have also made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and won eight conference titles during his nearly two decades at the helm.
At Notre Dame, Jackson has won two Spencer Penrose Awards (Division I coach of the year) and has been named CCHA Coach of the Year twice.
When Sheahan takes over, he will become only the fifth head coach in the program’s history. A member of Jackson’s original Irish team, Sheahan helped lead Notre Dame to their first Frozen Four championship game berth as a senior defenseman in 2007-08. He returned to South Bend as associate head coach prior to last season.
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