After a record-setting season, South Carolina Stingrays Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jared Nightingale is headed to the American Hockey League.

The club announced Friday that Nightingale has been named as the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate, Rockford IceHogs.

Nightingale has a previous history with Rockford. Prior to his arrival in the Lowcountry, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the IceHogs, where he worked closely with the Blackhawks’ top prospects and helped Rockford reach the Calder Cup Playoffs each year.

Nightingale’s familiarity with the organization and success in the ECHL make his return to the AHL a natural next step.

Although the Stingrays were eliminated in the South Division Semifinals by the Orlando Solar Bears, the 2024-25 season was an historic one. During his lone season with the Washington Capitals’ ECHL affiliate, the 42-year-old led the Stingrays to a 52-15-5 regular-season record.

The team set new franchise marks for wins (52), points (109), and home victories (29).

Nightingale was also named the 2024-25 John Brophy ECHL Coach of the Year and helped the Stingrays secure the Brabham Cup for the second time in team history as the ECHL’s best regular-season record.

“When we named Jared as our next head coach last summer, we knew we were getting a special person and coach,” Stingrays President Rob Concannon said in a statement. “We are very appreciative of Jared for his commitment and leadership to Stingrays hockey this past season. In his short time with the Stingrays, he did a remarkable job reestablishing a fun, exciting, and competitive brand of Stingrays hockey. Jared did a great job connecting with our players, front office staff, fans, and everyone he came in contact with. He will do a terrific job in the AHL, and we wish him nothing but the best in Rockford.”

The Stingrays' search for their next Head Coach begins immediately.

(Photos Courtesy of the South Carolina Stingrays)