Michigan State has introduced that head hockey coach Adam Nightingale has signed a multi-year contract extension.
Coming into his fourth season on the helm in 2025-26, Nightingale has guided Michigan State hockey to back-to-back Huge Ten regular-season and convention event titles and a 69-35-9 general report. His .650 profession successful share ranks second in program historical past behind Ron Mason’s .687. MSU’s convention titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25 marked the third time in program historical past that the Spartans gained convention championships in consecutive seasons (1984-85/1985-86 and 1988-89/1989-90 within the CCHA). The Spartans turned the primary college to win back-to-back Huge Ten regular-season and event titles in the identical seasons.
“I’m appreciative of the assist the board of trustees and president Kevin Guskiewicz have demonstrated with as we speak’s announcement of a brand new contract for Adam Nightingale, serving to to make sure he leads the Spartan hockey program for a few years to come back,” mentioned J Batt, Michigan State VP and director of athletics, in an announcement. “Below Coach Nightingale’s steerage, Michigan State has returned to its place as one of many elite applications in faculty hockey, creating unimaginable pleasure each inside the hockey group and all through all of our loyal supporters. Coming off back-to-back Huge Ten championships, there’s a buzz that even higher issues are on the horizon.
“Personally, I can’t wait to expertise the thrill of the sold-out crowds at Munn Ice Enviornment this winter, in what could possibly be a really particular season.”
Final season Michigan State completed 26-7-4, making their second consecutive and twenty ninth general NCAA event look, which ranks seventh all-time amongst NCAA Division I colleges. Michigan State acquired a No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season and was the No. 2-seeded staff within the event general.
“My household and I are extremely grateful for the chance to symbolize Michigan State College,” mentioned Nightingale. “To teach at an establishment like this and be a part of the East Lansing group is a privilege and an superior duty. The assist our program receives, from president Kevin Guskiewicz, the board of trustees, director of athletics J Batt and the whole Spartan household, won’t ever be taken as a right, and we make certain our gamers and employees perceive that every day. We look ahead to persevering with to make our college, alumni and group proud.”
In three seasons, Nightingale has produced 11 all-Huge Ten choices, 4 All-Individuals, a Huge Ten participant of the yr, a Huge Ten defensive participant of the yr, a Huge Ten goaltender of the yr and a Hobey Baker Award winner. This previous season, Isaac Howard turned the third Spartan all-time to win the Hobey and the fourth to win USA Hockey’s Jim Johannson School Participant of the 12 months award.
In three seasons beneath Nightingale, Michigan State has put collectively one of the exceptional turnarounds in faculty hockey historical past. For the primary time for the reason that 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, MSU has posted consecutive whole house attendance numbers exceeding 100,000. Michigan State’s mixed house attendance of 111,434 in 2024-25 was the very best by this system since 2007-08 and ranked seventh nationally. MSU’s common house attendance of 6,555 final season, which included 17 sellouts, ranked sixth nationally and was the very best common attendance since 2001-02 (which included attendance figures from the Chilly Conflict recreation at Spartan Stadium). Below Nightingale, the Spartans have bought out 42 of their final 43 contests at Munn, together with 31 straight.
Along with stellar house attendance, Michigan State performed in two of the highest 4 highest attended video games of the whole collegiate hockey season when it took on Wisconsin at Wrigley Discipline (24,788) and Michigan at Little Caesars Enviornment (19,515) the place the Spartans gained a second consecutive Duel within the D trophy.
Success has additionally come for the Spartans off the ice the place this previous season student-athletes posted a cumulative 3.425 staff GPA, the very best in program historical past.
The 2024 Huge Ten coach of the yr, Nightingale lately served as an assistant coach for Crew USA on the 2025 IIHF World Championship the place the US introduced house gold for the primary time in 92 years.
Previous to his return to East Lansing, Nightingale was head coach of the US Nationwide Crew Growth Program (NTDP) for 2 seasons (2020-22) and was an assistant coach for the Detroit Crimson Wings (2019-20). Nightingale obtained his begin within the NHL as a video coach for the Buffalo Sabres (2016-17) and Crimson Wings (2017-19). Earlier than becoming a member of the skilled ranks, Nightingale served as head coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 14U staff for 2 seasons (2014-16), main the staff to a nationwide championship in 2016.
Nightingale’s collegiate taking part in profession concluded together with his two seasons at Michigan State (2003-05) the place in 67 video games, he totaled 37 factors (18 targets, 19 assists) and served as alternate captain. The Spartans took house a Nice Lakes Invitational title and certified for the NCAA event in 2004. Nightingale first returned to MSU as director of hockey operations (2010-14) the place he oversaw all staff video and journey.
