MSU Hockey looks to keep it’s coach
MSU’s new AD wasted no time in locking in one of the best hockey coaches in the nation. Adam Nightingale has signed a new deal, even after a new one last year, that almost guarantees him staying a Spartan for the duration.
The new deal is a 5 year contract that gives him 1.3 million annually. This contract is no joke. According to the research I was able to dig up, this puts Nightingale at the top. Private universities numbers are tougher to come by but the likely top ten nation wide with Nightingale would be: Rand Pecknold (Quinnipiac), Greg Carvel (UMass), Mike Cavanaugh (UConn), Tony Granato (Wisconsin), David Carle (Denver), Jason Rohlik (Minnesota Duluth), Ben Barr (Maine), Greg Brown (BC), and Dane Jackson (North Dakota). Having MSU on this list of hockey schools is a big sign of the resurgence this program has made with its back to back B1G titles and number one seed NCAA appearances. They very well could start the season with a number one ranking and a national title or bust campaign.
The additional piece to Nightingale’s contract that has many people thinking he’s going to be around for a while is the buyout increase. It’s going to cost someone 2 million for the first three years if he gets poached. This would likely make him untouchable in the collegiate world but wouldn’t likely stop the NHL. Carle at Denver has been on the NHL radar for a couple of years now and has managed to stay put. It will be interesting to see if the NHL comes knocking is Nightingale can manage to win the Frozen Four. His retention bonus also increased to 300k annually.
With Nightingale locked in and players like Augustine and Howard opting to come back rather than sign professionally, the recruits and portal moves, MSU Hockey is set up to potentially be one of the best athletic teams on campus if not the best. Nightingale said in a press release, “My family and I are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent Michigan State University. To coach at an institution like this and be part of the East Lansing community is a privilege and an awesome responsibility. The support our program receives, from President Kevin Guskiewicz, the Board of Trustees, Director of Athletics J Batt and the entire Spartan family, will never be taken for granted, and we make sure our players and staff understand that on a daily basis. We look forward to continuing to make our university, alumni and community proud.”
TOC readers, what are your thoughts on the contract and how do you feel this sets a tone for Batt’s reign? Personally, I feel this sparks a lot of optimism. With MSU football on a recruitment hot streak the last week and Nightingale’s contract, perhaps the inside knowledge is that MSU is goal oriented in making a leap into the current times and becoming relevant and even maintaining relevance. Who’s ready for the puck to drop at Munn this fall?