Congratulations Brock Sheahan

A University steeped in tradition, former Irish hockey standout Brock Sheahan will return to the Notre Dame bench as head coach for the 2024-25 season. A 2008 graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Brock Sheahan returns to his alma mater following a decade away in various coaching roles at the junior, collegiate and professional levels.

Head Hockey Coach Jeff Jackson has announced his plans to step down at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Current Notre Dame Associate Head Coach and former Golden Domer, Brock Sheahan ’08 will succeed Jackson as the next head coach of the Irish upon completion of the 2024-25 season, becoming the fifth coach in program history. 

For the 2024-25 season Jackson and Sheahan will share the head coaching duties.

Brock is a Lethbridge born, minor hockey alumni. In the 1999-2000 season he played with the Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 AAA, and the next 2 seasons on the U18AAA team.

From 2003 - 2013 Brock played 1 season in the AJHL, 4 seasons in the NCAA with University of Notre Dame, and finished is playing career in the ECHL.

Sheahan returned to the Irish as Associate Head Coach prior to the 2023-24 season and was instrumental in the development of the young roster. His emphasis on player development in his first season in a full-time coaching capacity at Notre Dame led five graduates to sign professional deals, including a pair of NHL signees in Landon Slaggert (Chicago) and Drew Bavaro (Boston).

“The opportunity to lead the Notre Dame Hockey program is a dream come true for me and my family,” Sheahan said. “I will be forever grateful to Father Bob Dowd, John Veihmeyer, Jack Brennan, Pete Bevacqua, and the University of Notre Dame for this responsibility.

“I am motivated to lead the program forward, with the intention of winning conference and national championships, while developing our student-athletes to the highest level, as both people and hockey players. The mentorship, influence, and friendship from Jeff Jackson, Paul Pooley, and Andy Slaggert has made me into the person and coach I am today. I am especially thankful for the support of Coach Jackson and all the guidance he has provided me over the years. He has made Notre Dame hockey what it is today and I am excited to work with him this season to achieve our goal of bringing Notre Dame Hockey its first national championship.”

His return to the Irish program a season ago came after a stint as the head coach of the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League). In one season with the Wolves he led his team to a 35-29-5 regular season record.

Prior to his time with the Wolves, he spent four years with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, a junior level program developing the next generation of hockey talent. There, he was a key component in the development of 28 NHL Draftees, including four first-round selections and collegiate hockey stars.

During his tenure with the Steel, Sheahan’s teams won two Anderson Cups, awarded to the league’s regular season champions as well as capturing the 2021 Clark Cup championship. After assuming the role of head coach partway through the 2019-20 season, Sheahan posted a 100-27-12-3 regular season record in the USHL and added an 8-3 record in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

Sheahan returned to the collegiate ranks last season, having previously served four seasons as an assistant/associate head coach at Holy Cross following a year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Irish in 2013-14.  

A defenseman for the Irish from 2004-08, Sheahan skated three seasons under Jackson. Throughout his collegiate career he appeared in 161 games and tallied 33 points. He served as alternate captain his senior year and was named the team’s top defenseman in 2007-08 after helping his team to their first ever NCAA championship appearance. 

Sheahan and his wife Ashley have two children, Beau and Evelyn.

“I am excited about the present and the future of Notre Dame Hockey,” Jackson added. “Brock is a true Notre Dame man and a fantastic coach. He will do incredible things here. For now, the focus is on preparing for a great 2024-25 season.”