UND Athletics
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Bill Chaves announced Monday, July 20, 2026 that the university has reached an agreement on enhanced terms for head men’s hockey coach Dane Jackson’s current contract, recognizing the success of his first season and reinforcing UND’s commitment to sustained championship success.
It was a memorable first year at the helm for Jackson and the Fighting Hawks, as he guided UND to a 29-10-1 overall record, the most wins since the 2015-16 season, en route to a Penrose Cup as NCHC regular season champions as well as the program’s first NCAA Frozen Four appearance since that same 2015-16 campaign. He earned multiple accolades, including NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year and CHN Coach of the Year as well as being a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award for the nation’s top collegiate hockey coach.
“Our expectation at North Dakota is to compete for championships, and Dane and his staff delivered a remarkable first season that reaffirmed the standard of our hockey program,” said Chaves. “Winning the Penrose Cup and returning to the Frozen Four in year one were tremendous accomplishments and a reflection of the culture, leadership and vision Dane has established. We’re also incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary generosity of our hockey supporters. Through private philanthropic support, we had the opportunity to enhance Dane’s current agreement while also providing additional stability for the leadership team around him. Investments like these demonstrate our supporters’ belief in the future of this program and their commitment to keeping North Dakota hockey among the elite programs in college hockey.”
In addition to Jackson’s enhanced agreement, associate head coach Matt Smaby and general manager Bryn Chyzyk have signed new three-year agreements, ensuring continuity in two key leadership positions. Assistant coach Dillon Simpson, who also received a pay increase, will embark on his second season on Jackson’s staff and fourth overall in 2026-27. Simpson will continue to play an integral part in coaching one of the top defensive units in college hockey.
“I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Armacost and Bill Chaves for their trust and support,” said Jackson. “I’m equally thankful to the many alumni, donors and fans whose investment in our program continues year-in and year-out, amplifying their commitment to UND hockey and giving our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed. I’m especially proud of our coaching and support staffs, including Mark Poolman, John Fitzgerald, Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Dan Johansson and Pat Swanson, who work tirelessly behind the scenes every day. Matt, Bryn and Dillon have each played an invaluable role in what we’re building together, and our players deserve tremendous credit for embracing our expectations and competing with great character. While we’re proud of what we accomplished in our first year, our focus is firmly on what’s next. Our goal is to continue building a program that consistently competes for NCHC and National Championships.”
North Dakota is slated to open the 2026-27 season with an exhibition contest on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6:07 p.m. against Augustana.
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