MSU's Nightingale is a Finalist for Penrose Award

Fresh off what was just his second season as Michigan State hockey's head coach, Adam Nightingale has been named one of nine finalists for this year's American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year award, the AHCA revealed Monday.

The finalists include coaches who were named, or shared the honor of being named, Coach of the Year in their respective conference and coaches whose teams will be playing in this year's Frozen Four.

Nightingale led the Spartans to their first-ever Big Ten regular-season title, a program-first Big Ten Tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 this past season.

Selected as a No. 1 seed, Michigan State's season came to an end on Sunday when it fell to its top rival, Michigan, in the regional finals.

Nightingale won the 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year after being named a finalist last year, his first season with the program.

The Spartans coach played at Michigan State for two seasons after sitting out the first year he joined the program. He played 67 games for the Spartans, recording 12 goals and 10 assists.

The full list of finalists for the Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year award is as follows:

Greg Brown, Boston College

David Carle, University of Denver

Reid Cashman, Dartmouth

Kris Mayotte, Colorado College

Brandon Naurato, Michigan

Adam Nightingale, Michigan State

Jay Pandolfo, Boston University

Tom Serratore, Bemidji State

Wayne Wilson, RIT

Naurato and Nightingale, whose teams when head-to-head six times this season, are the only representatives of the Big Ten.

Minnesota's Bob Motzko and Notre Dame's Jeff Jackson are the only Big Ten Coaches to have received the Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year award in the last 15 seasons.

Legendary Spartans coach Ron Mason was the last Michigan State coach to receive the honor (1992). He and Amo Bessone (1966) are the only Spartan coaches to ever win the annual award.

The Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year award winner will be selected by the 64 NCAA Division I head coaches. The honoree will be announced on Wednesday, April 10.

The history of winners can be viewed here.

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