Chicago Blackhawks updates: Jared Nightingale hired in Rockford — and Mark Eaton returns to front office
Nightingale takes over for interim coach Mark Eaton, who filled in as a first-time coach when the Hawks promoted Anders Sörensen to interim coach in Chicago on Dec. 5 after firing Luke Richardson.
Nightingale, 42, was an assistant coach in Rockford from 2021-2024 (under Derek King, and then Sörensen) before serving as head coach of the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays last season, his first season as a bench boss.
The Stingrays finished as regular-season champions at 52-15-5, but lost in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. However, Nightingale was named ECHL coach of the year and also served as director of hockey operations for the Stingrays, who set franchise records in points (109) and wins (52).
'A natural leader, Jared's confidence and direction behind the bench has produced a coaching style that is perfectly suited to help develop and advance our young prospects in Rockford,' Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. 'His familiarity with the organization and our players is an incomparable asset and we're excited to see Jared succeed in this role moving forward.'
Nightingale also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. U17 team in 2018-19 that featured IceHogs prospects Drew Commesso and Landon Slaggert, and on the Juniors roster that had Hawks goalie Spencer Knight and defenseman Alex Vlasic. He worked under then-head coach Seth Appert, a longtime colleague of new Hawks coach Jeff Blashill.
Blashill was named the Hawks' 42nd head coach this month, and while he has kept on some staffers, he's shaken up the rest of the coaching tree:
Despite his one-year absence from the organization, Nightingale will likely be reunited with some top prospects who may spend at least some of next season in Rockford, including defensemen Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro and forward Colton Dach.
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