Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Features Writer
One more line on Jared Nightingale’s resume put him in prime position to become an AHL head coach.
Since his retirement in 2017 following 11 pro seasons skating in the AHL and ECHL, Nightingale had steadily made his way through several coaching stops, a clear fit for the well respected former defenseman and captain.
He started off as an assistant coach with Omaha of the United States Hockey League. He worked with the prestigious U.S. National Team Development Program, and later became an associate coach with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League. In November 2021, the ripple effects from a coaching shake-up with the Chicago Blackhawks opened up a spot to bring in the one-time IceHog as an assistant coach in Rockford.
But head-coaching experience usually goes a long way in hiring decisions, and Nightingale still needed that line on his CV. In 2024, he was hired as head coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, an operation that has been a proven coaching track to both the AHL and NHL for the likes of Jared Bednar, Cail MacLean, Spencer Carbery and Ryan Warsofsky. Nightingale led South Carolina to the best regular season in franchise history, finishing first overall in the league and earning the ECHL’s coach of the year award.
With that kind of success paired with already having bench experience at the AHL level, it was expected that Nightingale would attract attention for head-coaching vacancies in the American Hockey League this offseason. He was named Rockford’s new head coach on May 30.
When it came time to interview with the Blackhawks organization this past spring, Nightingale already had history with the front office from his time with Rockford. With no need to break the ice or get to know each other, the two sides could get down to talking hockey and learning what Nightingale had taken from his first campaign with South Carolina. A strong relationship between the NHL and AHL head coaches is also key, and Nightingale arrived already knowing Blashill, a fellow Michigander.
“I thought it was probably an easier conversation than talking to somebody you haven’t met, an organization you haven’t worked for,” said Nightingale, who in addition to his ties to Rockford also knows new Blackhawks head coach and fellow Michigan native Jeff Blashill. “I think the relationships are there. Being my first head job in the AHL, I’m going to bring some…
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