Coach Jeff Jackson, who ended a 20-year run as Notre Dame head hockey coach this spring, is being recognized for his lengthy career as one of the seminal figures in amateur, collegiate, and pro hockey in the United States. Virtually anywhere you turn in the North American hockey landscape, Coach Jackson is regarded with respect.

When he was named Notre Dame head coach in 2005, Jackson was already a two-time NCAA champion, having led Lake Superior State to the national title in 1992 and 1994. And he had played a key role in building the U.S. National Team Development program, an initiative that has launched the careers of countless U.S. hockey stars.

At Notre Dame, Jackson took a team coming off a 5-26-7 disaster and built the Irish into a major player on the national stage. He led the Irish to 12 of their 13 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances, including four trips to the Frozen Four and national championship game appearances in 2008 and 2018.

On St. Patrick’s Day in 2007, Jackson led the Irish to a 2-1 victory over Michigan for the CCHA championship before a full house of mostly Wolverine fans at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Irish finished 32-7-3 and Jackson was named the winner of the Spencer T. Penrose Award as national coach of the year.

In 2008, the Irish defeated New Hampshire and Michigan State at the West Regional in Colorado Springs to advance to the Frozen Four in Denver. There, in the semi-finals, freshman Calle Ridderwall scored an electrifying goal in overtime to send top-seed Michigan packing and propel the Irish into the title tilt vs. Boston College.

The Irish again reigned as CCHA champs in 2009, also knocking off Michigan, 5-2, at Joe Louis. And Jackson’s squad captured the final CCHA title in 2013, defeating—who else—Michigan, 3-1.

Regional-final victories over New Hampshire in 2011 and UMass-Lowell in 2017 brought another pair of trips to the Frozen Four.

Notre Dame joined the Big 10 conference for hockey in 2017 and immediately captured both regular-season and tournament championships for 2017-18, defeating Ohio State in the title game at the Compton Family Ice Arena. The Irish then took out Michigan Tech and Providence at the East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn., to advance to their fourth Frozen Four under Jackson.

At the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the semi-final opponent was again Michigan. This time, Jake Evans scored with 5.2 seconds left in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and send the Irish on to the final. In the NCAA title game against Minnesota-Duluth, the Irish battled fiercely, falling, 2-1. With a final record of 25-9-2, Jackson was again named Penrose Award winner.

In his final season this past March, Jackson led the Irish to a Big Ten quarter-final upset of Minnesota, two games to one, in which he surpassed 600 career victories. He finished with a career record of 601-343-98, including 419-291-74 at Notre Dame.

This spring, Jackson was honored with the 2025 Distinguished Achievement Award from USA Hockey.

At Notre Dame, Jackson’s legacy also includes the centerpiece of Fighting Irish hockey—the Compton Family Ice Arena, among the most spectacular venues in the sport, built in 2011.

Generations of Notre Dame hockey players, their families and fans are grateful to Coach Jeff Jackson.