May 5, 2005
Lucia Expects Jackson to Land Notre Dame Job
By Jess Myers and Nate Ewell
Minnesota head coach Don Lucia – a Notre Dame alum who has indicated that he would help his alma mater identify its next head coach – told Inside College Hockey on Wednesday that he expects former Lake Superior State head coach Jeff Jackson to get the Fighting Irish job.
"I would be surprised if Jeff Jackson did not get the job," said Lucia.
Lucia also denied any interest in taking over the head coaching position in South Bend.
"Today I am not a candidate for the Notre Dame job," he said. "I am the Gophers' coach."
Jackson, an assistant coach in the New York Islanders organization, spent six years as the Lake Superior State head coach (1990-96). He led the Lakers to two national championships, three straight NCAA title games and six CCHA regular-season or playoff championships.
Jackson was unavailable for comment.
He left Lake Superior State in 1996 to found the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, and has also coached in the OHL.
Notre Dame's head coaching position opened April 15 when Dave Poulin announced his resignation after 10 years behind the bench. Poulin, who has assumed a fund-raising role in the athletic department, led the Fighting Irish to the 2004 NCAA Tournament, but the team finished last in the CCHA this past season.
