SOUTH BEND, Ind. – With the conclusion of the 2024-25 Irish hockey season Saturday night, Brock Sheahan (‘08) has officially taken over as Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach, as announced by the University of Notre Dame Monday. A defenseman for the Irish from 2004-08, and a member of the program’s first Frozen Four team, Sheahan becomes the fifth head coach in modern Notre Dame hockey history. Sheahan succeeds Jeff Jackson who concluded his time behind the Irish bench as the winningest coach in program history and ranks ninth all-time in Division I men’s ice hockey head coaching wins with 601.
“The opportunity to lead the Notre Dame Hockey program is a dream come true for me and my family,” Sheahan said. “I will be forever grateful to Father Bob Dowd, John Veihmeyer, Jack Brennan, Pete Bevacqua, and the University of Notre Dame for this responsibility.
“The support of Coach Jackson through this entire process means so much to me. His faith in my ability to lead the program forward has been invaluable, and I know we will build on the foundation he, Coach Pooley, and Coach Slaggert have set over the last 20 years. The future of Notre Dame hockey is bright, and without the amazing work done by Coach Jackson, and his entire staff the program would not be where it is today.”
Details regarding an official introductory press conference will be announced in the coming days.
Sheahan was a member of Jackson’s original Irish team and helped lead the team to its first ever berth in the Frozen Four championship game as a senior defenseman in 2007-08. As a student-athlete at Notre Dame, Sheahan graduated with a degree in finance and served as alternate captain during his final season with the Blue and Gold.
He returned to the Irish as an Associate Head Coach prior to the 2023-24 season and has been instrumental in the development of a young roster. In 2024-25 the Irish saw sophomore Cole Knuble boast the highest point total of an Irish skater since the 2017-18 Frozen Four campaign as the center boasted 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points. At the conclusion of the season, the sophomore class accounted for four of the top-seven scorers on the team as Danny Nelson (13-13-26), Paul Fischer (2-19-21) and Brennan Ali (7-12-19), along with Knuble, had career-best years.
Sheahan’s emphasis on player development in his first two seasons in a full-time coaching capacity at Notre Dame saw five graduating members sign professional contracts, including a pair of NHL signees in his first season with the Irish as Landon Slaggert (Chicago) and Drew Bavaro (Boston) both inked NHL deals following the 2023-24 season.
The way Brock cares about the development of his players is unparalleled,” Bavaro (‘24) said. “I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with Brock during my senior season and I can confidently say I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him.
“The details are what separates Brock from others like him. He is one of the brightest hockey minds in the game and being around him everyday is something I didn’t take for granted. There is no doubt in my mind Brock will create an environment for kids to flourish; just as I did in my short time with him. He’s the epitome of a Notre Dame man and I’m extremely excited to see where he brings the program”
Sheahan returned to the Irish following a one-year stint as head coach of the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League). In just one season at the head of the Wolves, he led his team to a 35-29-5 regular season record.
Prior to his time with the Wolves, he spent four years with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, a junior level program developing the next generation of hockey talent. There, he was a key component in the development of 28 NHL Draftees, including four first-round selections and collegiate hockey stars.
During his tenure with the Steel, Sheahan’s teams won two Anderson Cups, awarded to the league’s regular season champions as well as capturing the 2021 Clark Cup championship. After assuming the role of head coach partway through the 2019-20 season, Sheahan posted a 100-27-12-3 regular season record in the USHL and added an 8-3 record in the Clark Cup Playoffs.
Sheahan returned to the collegiate ranks last season, having previously served four seasons as an assistant/associate head coach at Holy Cross following a year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Irish in 2013-14.
“I could not be more excited to have Brock step in as our Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach,” University Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua said. “Brock has shown at every stop in his hockey journey, including his time here as a student-athlete, to be an innovative tactician who is always one step ahead of the curve. “
A defenseman for the Irish from 2004-08, Sheahan skated three seasons under Jackson. Throughout his collegiate career he appeared in 161 games and tallied 33 points. He served as alternate captain his senior year and was named the team’s top defenseman in 2007-08 after helping his team to their first ever NCAA championship appearance.
Sheahan and his wife Ashley have two children, Beau and Evelyn.
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