The Rockford IceHogs announced they have hired Jared Nightingale as the team's new head coach.
Per the team assistant coaches Rob Klinkhammer and Josh MacNevin will remain in their roles.
Nightingale replaces interim head coach Mark Eaton who went from Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager to behind the bench on Dec. 5 when then head coach Anders Sorensen was promoted to the NHL.
The 42-year-old won the John Brophy Trophy as ECHL Coach of the Year this season with the South Carolina Stingrays while also serving as director of hockey operations. He led the team to a franchise best record of 52-15-5.
The Jackson, MI., native was an assistant coach with Rockford from 2021-24. In his three seasons with the team the IceHogs had a record of 111-84-14-7.
In his playing career Nightingale served as captain for the IceHogs in 2013-14, his lone season with the team. In 472 career AHL games over parts of 12 seasons he recorded 16 goals, 59 points, and 989 penalty minutes.
The Hockey News' Chicago Blackhawks team site also covered this move here.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.