Notre Dame Hockey Head Coach Jeff Jackson Do not look Monday evening news As his retirement.
Jackson, who will enter his 20th season leading the Irish and retire after the 2024-25 season, has no plans to retire from coaching and could take another position at Notre Dame, but wants to remain in hockey in some capacity.
Jackson spoke with the former Irish men's basketball coach. Mike Braymade the same decision after the 2022-23 season and is now an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, and he would consider doing something similar in the NHL.
But like Brey, the 69-year-old Jackson realized his time at Notre Dame was over.
“We've felt a little constrained in terms of recruiting over the last few years and I feel like I have to take responsibility for that,” Jackson said during a Zoom press conference Tuesday morning. “It's caused the program to decline a little bit over the last few years.”
“We had some great kids, but we didn't have the same level of talent as years past. We need to get back to that level.”
The Irish haven't played in the NCAA Tournament since 2022, haven't won the Big Ten Tournament since 2019 and haven't played in the Frozen Four since 2018.
Jackson's achievements Andy SlaggertAs Notre Dame's scouting coordinator and associate head coach, he tried his best to target the right players and do all he could in his scouting efforts, but ultimately he didn't think he could change enough about himself to land them.
“We've tried a lot of different things to counteract the public commentary that's been going around about how we play and how we develop players and some of the institutions that talk about Notre Dame and developing players like that,” Jackson said. “It was something that we just couldn't compete with.”
The growing entrenchment of name, image and likeness rights in college hockey also influenced Jackson's decision. While he supports players making money in principle, he called the idea that the term “student-athlete” should no longer be used “embarrassing.”
The zero-sum nature of recruiting and the transfer portal also discouraged Jackson.
Jackson said that as recently as 10 years ago, major college programs had “gentlemen's agreements” regarding each other's players and recruits. Unlike most other college sports, hockey is unique in that it must compete with major junior hockey in both the United States and Canada.
To Jackson's disappointment, that agreement is no longer being honored.
“Everything is becoming more and more like a cutthroat football or basketball situation,” Jackson said. “It's taking away players and freshmen. It's not the same as it used to be and it's unfortunate, but more importantly, I'm concerned about the future of college hockey in that respect.”
Jackson viewed his decision to announce his resignation now, rather than stepping down without notice after next season, as a way to give his successor, the current associate head coach, an opportunity. Brock SheehanThis will give you an advantage in the 2025 hiring cycle.
But he'll stay on as head coach for one more season and doesn't want this to be a farewell tour. Jackson is as frustrated as anyone with the Irish not making the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and wants to improve that in his final season.
“I want the guys to get back in the right frame of mind and understand that it's business as usual,” Jackson said. “I want them to have the drive to get back to where they were and get revenge for the last few years.”
