After winning first-ever Big Ten regular-season championship, Michigan State rewards coach Nightingale with contract extension

Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale has signed a brand new contract to stick with the Spartans program.

Nightingale’s five-year rollover contract consists of non-performance associated compensation of $700,000 in 12 months one. This features a base wage of $600,000 and supplemental compensation of $100,000 within the first 12 months. Starting in 12 months two, the supplemental compensation will improve by $25,000 from the earlier 12 months. Nightingale can also be entitled to a $100,000 retention bonus each two years starting Sept. 30, 2024 (supplied he has served constantly as the top hockey coach for twenty-four consecutive months instantly previous Sept. 30 of the calendar 12 months through which the bonus will probably be paid).

The contract additionally consists of an elevated wage pool for assistants and hockey employees.

“In lower than two years, Adam Nightingale has sparked a resurgence all through the Spartan hockey program,” MSU VP and director of athletics Alan Haller mentioned in a press release. “Clearly, everybody will level to our first ever Huge Ten regular-season championship, however that’s just one a part of the success story. Off the ice, hockey student-athletes are acting at a historic degree within the classroom, whereas additionally enjoying an energetic position in our group. Sellout crowds have returned to Munn Ice Area, re-establishing it as among the best residence ice benefits within the sport. Equally necessary, our passionate alumni base is united in help of this system.

“Spartan hockey has a proud historical past of excellence, and we’re presently witnessing the newest chapter of success. A pair months in the past, Adam and I began having conversations surrounding him and his employees and the way greatest to proceed the resurgence of this system. With the brand new contract, we’re taking steps to make sure stability and the chance for achievement for a few years to return.”

Below Nightingale’s steering, Michigan State has put collectively one of the exceptional turnarounds in school hockey. This 12 months, the Spartans captured this system’s first-ever Huge Ten regular-season crown and their first regular-season convention title since 2000-01. With an general file of 22-9-3 (16-6-2 B1G) the Spartans have received extra video games than any squad for the reason that 2007-08 crew was 25-12-3 general and superior to the NCAA Regional Closing.

In his first season in 2022-23, the Spartans skilled speedy enchancment. MSU received 18 video games, bettering the earlier 12 months’s complete by six video games. On the conclusion of that season, Nightingale led his squad to a Huge Ten Event quarterfinal upset on the highway at Notre Dame, marking MSU’s first-ever wins within the postseason occasion. The turnaround led to him being a finalist for Huge Ten coach of the 12 months honors.

Within the classroom, the Spartans’ efficiency has been equally spectacular. Final fall, the Spartans posted a 3.3873 cumulative GPA and a 3.4277 semester GPA, establishing program data in each classes.

“Being the top coach of the Spartan hockey program continues to be an excellent honor – one I don’t take evenly,” mentioned Nightingale. “Our employees and gamers are grateful for the help we obtain from the college, group and alumni. The chance to signify them is a humbling expertise. Though we celebrated a Huge Ten championship final weekend, we nonetheless have a number of short-term and long-term targets we are going to try to realize. We admire Alan Haller and (deputy AD) Jennifer Smith’s perception in us and sit up for persevering with our climb again to the highest of faculty hockey.”

A Spartan alumnus with hockey expertise on the worldwide, skilled, collegiate and youth ranges, Nightingale is the eighth head coach in Michigan State hockey historical past.

Previous to his arrival in East Lansing, he was head coach for 2 seasons at the US Nationwide Workforce Improvement Program. He additionally brings 4 years of NHL expertise, with one 12 months in Buffalo and three in Detroit, together with the 2019-20 season as a Pink Wings assistant. Earlier than becoming a member of the professional ranks, Nightingale served as head coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Bantam crew in Faribault, Minn., for 2 seasons (2014-16), in addition to two years (2008-10) as the top coach of the Shattuck midget AA squad. Between his stints at Shattuck, Nightingale was the director of hockey operations at Michigan State.