What to know about the Rockford IceHogs new head coach Jared Nightingale

On Friday the Chicago Blackhawks announced that Jared Nightingale had been named the new head coach of the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate.

For Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson, this is yet another item off of the summer do to list as the IceHogs now have their new bench boss. Nightingale steps into an IceHogs locker room filled with talent, and a room he is familiar with.

Nightingale takes over for interim head coach Mark Eaton. Eaton, the Blackhawks assistant general manager overseeing player development, took over for Anders Sorensen when Sorensen was named interim head coach of the Blackhawks in December 2024 after the firing of Luke Richardson.

Sorensen had served as head coach of the IceHogs since the 2021-22 season when he took over for Derek King who was named interim coach of the Hawks after Jeremy Colliton's firing in November 2021. Over the course of Sorensen's time in Rockford, the IceHogs were 117-89-16-7.

What to know about Rockford iceHogs head coach Jared Nightingale.

Nightingale, 42 returns to the IceHogs with experience. He had previously served as an assistant coach with the team from 2021-24 and he returns to the team after a phenomenal year as head coach of the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

WIth South Carolina, Nightingale posted a 52-15-5 record, setting a franchise record in points and wins in a single season. Nightingale won the John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year and his club had the best record of the regular season.

A career AHL defenseman, Nightingale played for a number of teams over the course of his career spanning from 2005 until his retirement in 2017. Some of the teams he played for include the Springfield Falcons, Iowa Stars, Hartford Wolf Pack, Chicago Wolves, Syracuse Crunch and Rockford IceHogs.

In 2013-14, Nightingale captained the IceHogs during his lone season with the team. Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson spoke highly of what Nightingale brings to the organization in his return to Rockford.

“Jared did a phenomenal job with South Carolina this past season in his first campaign as a head coach,” said Davidson in a news release. "A natural leader, Jared’s confidence and direction behind the bench has produced a coaching style that is perfectly suited to help develop and advance our young prospects in Rockford. His familiarity with the organization and our players is an incomparable asset and we’re excited to see Jared succeed in this role moving forward.”

Nightingale returning to Rockford after his year in South Carolina is definitely reason for excitement.

The IceHogs have a lot of young talent that could find their way to Rockford this next season and it is nice to know they will have a coach ready to help them take the next step in their careers.