March 31, 2011
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson is one of eight finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the NCAA Division I men’s hockey coach of the year.
Jackson, who was named the 2010-11 CCHA coach of the year on March 17, is now in his sixth season behind the Irish bench and has his team in the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in the last four seasons. Notre Dame is 25-13-5 overall and finished second in the CCHA with an 18-7-3-2 record for the year.
The Irish advanced to the Frozen Four by winning the NCAA Northeast Regional last weekend in Manchester, N.H., with wins over Merrimack (4-3 in overtime) and New Hampshire (2-1).
Now in his 12th season as a Division I head coach, Jackson owns a career record of 323-130-52 (.691) and is 139-78-27 (.625) in his six seasons at Notre Dame. In those six years, the Irish have won two CCHA regular season and playoff titles (2007, 2009), have appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times and the Frozen Four twice. He is a three-time CCHA coach of the year and won the Spencer Penrose Award in 2007.
To be a finalist for the Award, a coach must either be voted his conference coach of the year or guide his team to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Included on this year’s list are four former Penrose Award winners – Red Berenson (Michigan) who won it in 2008; Dean Blais (Nebraska-Omaha) who won the award in 1997 and 2001 while at North Dakota; Jerry York (Boston College), the 1977 winner as head coach at Clarkson and Jackson who won in 2007.
2010-11 Spencer Penrose Finalists
Red Berenson, Michigan - NCAA Semifinalist *Dean Blais, Nebraska-Omaha - WCHA coach of the year *Dave Hakstol, North Dakota - NCAA Semifinalist Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame - CCHA coach of the year and NCAA semifinalist *Nate Leaman, Union - ECAC coach of the yearPaul Pearl, Holy Cross - AHA coach of the yearScott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA SemifinalistJerry York, Boston College - Hockey East coach of the year *
*Past Spencer Penrose Award winners
The award is named in honor of the former Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA Hockey Championships. It will be presented at the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Coach of the Year Banquet on Saturday, April 30, in Naples, Fla. The winner will be announced following the Frozen Four.