SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame and Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Brock Sheahan has announced Mike Garman as Associate Head Coach of the Fighting Irish hockey program. Garman arrives in South Bend after eight seasons with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) where he served in a variety of roles during his time with the Steel, including as an Assistant Coach, Associate Head Coach, General Manager (GM), and most recently, as GM/Head Coach.
He previously served under Sheahan as an Associate Head Coach from 2019-21, where the duo led the team to a pair of Anderson Cups, awarded to the league’s regular season champions, as well as the 2021 Clark Cup Championship. He was promoted to GM in Sheahan’s last season as head coach with the Steel in 2021-22. In addition to the two Anderson Cups, and Clark Cup, the Steel finished first in the USHL’s Eastern Conference in four of Garman’s eight years with the Steel.
Garman succeeded Sheahan as Head Coach of the Steel following his departure for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2022-23 before Sheahan’s arrival back at the University of Notre Dame in 2023-24. Since taking over the Steel prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Garman has led the Steel to a record of 86-82-18, and has an overall record of 269-159-50 in his eight seasons with the team. He coached 31 NHL draft picks, and one NHL Free Agent Signing, in his eight years with the Steel, including seven first round picks, two of which were first overall selections (Owen Power 2021 – Buffalo / Macklin Celebrini 2024 – San Jose). Also, as general manager of the Steel, Garman tendered two future first round NHL picks in 2022-23 (Celebrini and Michael Hage), and coached two eventual Hobey Baker Award Winners (Adam Fantilli – 2022-23 / Celebrini – 2023-24). Garman also coached 12 NCAA All-American selections.
“It has always been my plan to bring Mike Garman with me to Notre Dame if/when I became the next Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach,” Sheahan said on the addition to his staff. “Mike is, first of all, a great person, a family man, and the type of human I want our student-athletes to be around. He is a brilliant hockey mind, great at developing meaningful relationships, and will be a great support for me in the development of both our team, and each individual player. He will be involved in all areas of our program, running our penalty kill, goalie…