Dan Jackson UND Athletics
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– University of North Dakota head hockey coach Dane Jackson has been named NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year on Wednesday, as announced by the league office.
Jackson earns the honor in his first year in charge of the Fighting Hawks program after serving as an assistant coach or associate head coach for UND the last 19 seasons. This marks the sixth time a UND bench boss has won Herb Brooks Coach of the Year, but first since Brad Berry in 2022. Jackson joins Berry (four-time winner) and Dave Hakstol (2015) as North Dakota coaches to capture the award.
This season, Jackson led North Dakota to its sixth outright Penrose Cup title and seventh Penrose Cup overall in program history. The Fighting Hawks finished 17-6-1 in conference play to capture the regular-season championship after being picked third in the NCHC Preseason Media Poll. Only two of UND’s six NCHC losses came in regulation.
Overall, North Dakota posted a 25-8-1 mark in the regular season, including only four losses in regulation. The Fighting Hawks started the season ranked No. 11 nationally and climbed into the top five in the polls by December, where they remained much of the season, including No. 2 this week. North Dakota currently sits No. 2 in the NPI as well, and is assured of a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
UND led the NCHC and was third in the country with an average of 3.85 goals per game in the regular season, while ranking second in the NCHC and in the top 10 nationally in team defense at 2.3 goals allowed per game. Jackson’s penalty kill unit ranked third in the NCHC and in the top 15 nationally at 83.0 percent in the regular season.
Jackson helped produce four Fighting Hawks on the NCHC All-Rookie Team this year, including NCHC Rookie of the Year Cole Reschny and Goaltender of the Year Jan Špunar. UND also saw four others earn All-Conference honors this season.
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