Notre Dame affiliate coach Andy Slaggert has introduced he can be leaving the varsity on the conclusion of the month to pursue a possibility on the skilled hockey stage.
Slaggert was elevated to affiliate head coach in 2017 and noticed his place endowed through the 2024-25 season, changing into the primary Ralph M. DiVietro Memorial Affiliate Hockey Coach in program historical past.
“The previous 32-plus seasons have been an incredible journey crammed with many highs and lows and particularly with improbable folks, from the coaches that I’m nonetheless fortunate sufficient to name buddies, to the help employees that’s the best possible in all of hockey, the alumni and donors specifically the Compton, Mashuta, DiVietro and Catalino households that help our endeavors, the followers and greatest band within the land and most significantly, the excessive stage of student-athlete, that we get to work together with every day,” Slaggert mentioned in an announcement. “I began working at Notre Dame as a single younger man and depart, not so younger, with a complete household led by everybody’s favourite Slaggert, Tara, and three sons that share our love of hockey, household and Notre Dame. As well as, our prolonged household of roughly 250 gamers previous, current and future who we now have had the pleasure of contemplating our boys as nicely.”
“Personally, I couldn’t be extra excited for Coach Slaggert, and his household for this wonderful alternative,” first-year Notre Dame head coach Brock Sheahan added. “‘Slaggs’ has meant a lot to Notre Dame hockey for a really very long time, and this system wouldn’t be what it’s at this time with out his tireless efforts. I’m eternally grateful to Coach Slaggert for recruiting me to this nice college, supporting my dream of being a hockey coach, and serving to me obtain my final dream of being the subsequent Catalino Household Head Hockey Coach on the College of Notre Dame. I might not be the particular person I’m at this time with out his mentorship, steerage, and help. I’m additionally grateful for his help throughout this time of transition, and Coach Slaggert has achieved an incredible job serving to us set this system up for sustained future success. We want him one of the best of luck sooner or later, and he’ll all the time be an enormous a part of Notre Dame hockey.”
In his time behind the bench for the Irish, Slaggert has spearheaded recruiting efforts for greater than three many years and has served in varied roles on the teaching employees since returning to his alma mater in 1992. He was acknowledged as one of many nation’s prime recruiters on the collegiate stage all through his 33 years behind the Irish bench. Notable names embody an inventory of 13 people who laced up their skates within the NHL through the 2024-25 marketing campaign. He additionally held the distinctive distinction of being part of each Notre Dame head coaches’ tenure within the fashionable period of Irish hockey, having performed for Lefty Smith and Ric Schafer earlier than serving on the staffs of Schafer, Dave Poulin, Jeff Jackson and Brock Sheahan. Twice, in 2007 and 2018, he was a part of Jackson’s employees (together with Paul Pooley) who had been named the Spencer Penrose Employees of the Yr by the AHCA.
Slaggert was honored by his friends through the 2009-10 season when he was named the winner of the AHCA’s Terry Flanagan Award for 2010. The award is known as in honor of the previous New Hampshire participant and Bowling Inexperienced assistant and honors an assistant coach for his profession physique of labor.
Throughout Slaggert’s earlier 32 seasons as an assistant, he has been concerned in recruiting 70 gamers who had been chosen within the NHL Draft (by way of the 2025 NHL draft). That group of 70 contains first-round picks Ian Cole (St. Louis in 2007), Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim in 2009) and Riley Sheahan (Detroit in 2010). Within the 2016 NHL Draft, Andrew Peeke (Columbus) and Cam Morrison (Colorado) had been chosen thirty fourth and fortieth general, marking the primary time in Notre Dame historical past two gamers went within the first 40 picks.
The Irish even have had 57 gamers from the U.S. Nationwide Crew Growth Program play at Notre Dame (previous to the 2025-26 season), whereas 25 Irish gamers have suited up for the U.S. Nationwide Junior Crew on the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The energetic and hard-working assistant has been extremely concerned with teaching on the nationwide stage since 1997. Throughout the summer season of 2004, Slaggert reached his highest stage when he was named head coach of the U.S. Underneath-17 choose group that went on to complete second on the 5 Nations Event in Halle, Germany.
The earlier yr (2003) the veteran assistant acquired his first style of teaching with USA Hockey on the worldwide stage when he served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Underneath-18 Choose group that captured the gold medal on the Underneath-18 World Cup held within the Czech Republic. Throughout the summers of 2002-05, the native of Saginaw, Mich., served as head coach at the USA Choose 15 match held at St. Cloud State.
A four-year member of the Irish hockey group, and a 1989 graduate of the college with a Bachelor of Arts, Slaggert additionally acquired his masters diploma from Ohio College in 1991.
Along with his legacy created at Notre Dame, Slaggert has seen all three sons gown for the Irish, together with present junior Carter.
“Whereas my relationship with Notre Dame and Preventing Irish hockey is altering, it isn’t ending,” Slaggert mentioned. “I’ll proceed to help Brock, his employees, the athletic division and the college to one of the best of my skill in any approach they see match. It has been the honour of my life to be referred to as ‘Coach’ on the College of Notre Dame and I hope that I’ve represented Our Girl in a way befitting such a prestigious position. I’m excited for what lies forward for me personally and professionally but additionally for this program which I’m assured will attain new heights. As all the time: Go Irish! Love Thee.”
A nationwide seek for Slaggert’s substitute will start instantly.
