“It was clear that a new direction needed to happen,” UND Athletic Director Bill Chaves said.
Last Thursday, Dane Jackson was introduced as the 17th Head Coach in UND hockey history.
He has bled green and black since 1988, when he started his four-year playing career at UND. In 2006, he returned as an assistant coach and has been on the staff since.
At the introductory press conference, Jackson talked about UND hockey’s roots and its identity going forward.
“North Dakota has always been built differently,” Jackson said. “We’ve been built on demand, the character, the toughness, the grit and guys that rise up in big moments. That’s what our coaches have picked through the years. We will get back to that. We’ve done that a lot. We’ll make sure that’s a core identity of ours.
“Our core identity will be to get the right players for the right reasons that want to play at UND to win championships, to develop as a player and a person, be part of a historic program and be immersed in an awesome culture, driven-focused teammates and coaches,” he said.
He wants to instill a gritty and accountable mindset into his staff and players.
“We will have a hard-nosed, accountable environment where everybody meets the standard,” Jackson said. “We’re going to commit to a no-excuses process. Our promise is we’ll outwork, outcompete, and outprepare opposition. Every practice, every workout, every meeting, we’ll pay attention to the details and commit to the work.”
Jackson wants to mix the old with the new in this ever-evolving college sports landscape.
“We need to modernize our program,” Jackson said. “In this fast-changing college landscape, we need to adapt. We’re going to hire a person that’s a GM/recruiting coach that will be dedicated to recruiting, roster management, portal management.”
UND will be the first NCAA men’s hockey team to have a general manager as one of its assistants. The general manager will not be the only assistant coach tasked with recruiting.
“We’re hoping [the general manager] will identify key guys and will have done the work to have a good book on them and the person that he is,” Jackson said. “Then, Simmer (Dillon Simpson) and I, and our other assistant coach that’s on the ice, will be working hard to get out there. We’re not just going to say it’s on [the general manager]. That’s how we’ve always done it here. Four guys are going to watch. We’re going to know exactly what we’re getting.”
He plans to duplicate the work ethic of his coaches in the past while taking inspiration from their recruiting philosophy at UND.
“I remember, after Saturday nights, watching Dean Blais, Gino Gasparini, and Cary Eades get in their car and start driving,” Jackson said. “They’d be going out to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Minnesota, to recruit for the next day. That level of dedication is something that always stuck with me. We will model that like the old guys because the answers are in the rinks.”
Jackson looks to prioritize filling out his coaching staff and roster this offseason and getting right to work.
“Our goals are to win NCHC championships and national championships,” Jackson said. “We’ve won six Penrose Cups in the last 12 years, as many as the rest of the league combined. Very proud of that. But we know we’re measured by national championships at UND. That’s what we will tailor our plans toward, winning another green banner.”
“Our staff will dedicate our lives to making UND a perennial power in college hockey and make you all proud,” he finished.
Elijah Andrews is the Dakota Student Sports Reporter. He can be reached at elijah.andrews@und.edu.
