June
3, 2005
Pooley Reunites With Jackson at Notre Dame
New Irish coach also retains long-time assistant
Slaggert
 |
| Paul
Pooley |
By Nate
Ewell and Mike Eidelbes
In his mission
to overhaul the Notre Dame hockey program, coach Jeff Jackson
will be joined by one assistant familiar with his methods and
one familiar with the university.
As reported by Inside College Hockey earlier this week, Jackson
officially added long-time Providence head coach Paul Pooley as
his associate head coach Friday. Jackson also retained Andy Slaggert,
a former Notre Dame player who has served as an assistant at his
alma mater since 1993.
Jackson and Pooley worked together at Lake Superior State from
1991-94, when the Lakers advanced to three consecutive NCAA championship
games. Pooley began his coaching career as an assistant at Ohio
State, his alma mater, following a three-year career in the NHL
and minor leagues.
Pooley, who announced his resignation from Providence Friday,
comes to Notre Dame on the heels of a disappointing seventh-place
Hockey East finish for the Friars in 2004-05. The team's 12-21-4
record was their worst of his 11-year tenure.
Pooley finished
his Providence career as the second-longest tenured coach at the
school, with the second-most wins (185). His overall career record
stands at 185-187-40. He led the team to five top-four finishes
in Hockey East play, including a tie for second in 2000-01, a
Hockey East playoff title in 1996, and NCAA Tournament appearances
in 1996 and 2001.
Pooley's
move will lead to the third coaching change in Hockey East entering
the 2005-06 season. Greg Cronin has replaced Bruce Crowder at
Northeastern, and Chris Serino stepped down as the Merrimack head
coach last month. A replacement has yet to be named at Merrimack.
Slaggert, meanwhile, enters his 13th season as a Notre Dame assistant
and will be working for his third coach (he also served under
Poulin's predecessor, Ric Schafer). A two-year letterwinner for
the Fighting Irish, Slaggert will keep his role as coordinator
of the team's recruiting efforts.
