Adam Nightingale hired as the next Michigan State hockey coach
EAST LANSING – Adam Nightingale, the coach of the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 team, has been hired as the eighth head hockey coach in Michigan State history, the school announced on Tuesday.
Nightingale, 42, will take over after previous coach Danton Cole and MSU parted ways on April 12 after he led the Spartans for five seasons.
"It brings me great pride to bring Adam Nightingale back to Michigan State University as the new head coach of Spartan hockey," said Alan Haller, MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics, in a press release. "Adam has a passion for the school and the program, and his combination of skill development, player development and recruiting ties promises to make the next era of Spartan hockey a successful chapter in the storied history of a proud program."
A Cheboygan native, Nightingale has served as the U.S. U-18 coach for the past two season, and was previously the U.S. U-17 coach, as well as an assistant coach for both the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.
"I'm extremely thankful and humbled to have the opportunity to lead at Michigan State University," said Nightingale in a press release. "Spartan hockey is a source of pride for the University, the East Lansing community, and the entire state of Michigan. I'd like to thank Athletic Director Alan Haller, Deputy AD Jennifer Smith, and everyone involved in the search process for the opportunity to come back home and once again be a part of this storied program.
"We will hire a staff that is well equipped to support our student-athletes and will be committed to developing them as a person, not just a hockey player. We want to bring in high-level players with aspirations to work hard and help them develop to the point where they have the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League.
"Our staff will put a premium on player development so that we can play an exciting and skilled brand of hockey. We will continue the traditions of hard-working student-athletes who are standouts not only on the ice, but also in the classroom and in our community. We look forward to building the program back to where our proud alumni and fan base know it should be, which is the top of college hockey."
Other MSU hockey coverage:
Couch: As MSU hockey starts over again with a new coach, here's what matters and what no longer does
Danton Cole out as Michigan State hockey coach
Nightingale played his collegiate hockey at Lake Superior State from 2000-2002 before coming to MSU, where he played from 2003-2005.
Nightingale also served as MSU's director of hockey operations from 2010-2014 before taking the head coaching position at prep hockey powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary's, in Minnesota where he stayed for just one season.
Nightingale led the U.S. U-18 team at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Championship this past week, guiding the U.S.to a second-place finish, falling to Sweden in the championship game.
Nightingale has also served as an assistant coach and video coach for the U.S. Men's National Team from 2015-2021.
Cole finished with a record of 58-101-12 in five seasons at MSU.
The Spartans have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament since 2012.
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Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey: Adam Nightingale hired as next head coach
