Mike Garman 2025-26 Hockey Staff

Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Brock Sheahan announced the addition of Mike Garman as Associate Head Coach in May 2025. Garman arrived 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. 

In his role as both an assistant coach and associate head coach with the Steel, Garman worked with the goaltenders, including current Seattle Kraken (NHL) prospect Victor Ostman and 2023-24 NCAA East Second Team All-American Ian Shane (Cornell).

The former netminder spent three seasons at Cornell University where he finished his career with a 2.21 goals against average and a .928 save percentage as a junior – ranking second nationally among NCAA Division I netminders for the 2010-11 season. He concluded his career with the Big Red with a .925 save percentage and just 44 goals against in three years.

Following his collegiate career, Garman spent three years playing professionally, both in North America and Europe, before returning to the United States and founding GoaliebyGarman, LLC where he coaches and consults professional, collegiate, junior, and youth hockey players alike on developing their skills in the crease.

At the conclusion of the 2024-25 season with the Steel, Garman was selected as an Assistant Coach for the US Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship where he helped lead the team to the bronze medal behind an overtime win in Frisco, Texas.