Get to Know Notre Dame’s New Head Hockey Coach: Brock Sheahan
- Brenden Duffy
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Notre Dame Head Hockey Coach Brock Sheahan is prepared to begin his journey as the Irish’s new leader, making him the fifth coach in the program’s modern era.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Who is Brock Sheahan?
Coach Sheahan is a 40-year-old from Alberta, Canada who played as a defenseman for the Irish from 2004-2008. Following a five-year professional playing career, Sheahan remained involved in the game as a coach. He earned his first full-time head coaching role in the USHL with the Chicago Steel. After two seasons with the Steel, he accepted the head coaching position with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Sheahan then accepted a role with his alma mater, Notre Dame, as an Associate Head Coach on Jeff Jackson’s staff in 2023. Just one year later, he was named the ‘head coach-in-waiting’ after Jackson’s announcement he would be retiring following the 2024-25 season. This brings us to the present day, where on March 17 he was officially named the Head Coach at Notre Dame and he spoke with the media for the first time this week, on April 9, in his introductory press conference.
Playing Career
Over a decade ago, Sheahan was a defenseman during his time on the ice. Before playing at Notre Dame, the young Canadian had a 28-point season across 48 games played in the AJHL with the Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves in 2003-04.
Sheahan entered Notre Dame coming off his productive year in the AJHL, not knowing that the Irish were about to experience the worst season in the program’s modern era. Fortunately for the young defenseman, he would later experience the most successful season in program history. In the final season of the Dave Poulin era (2004-05), the Irish finished 5-27-6. As a freshman, Sheahan tallied four points in 36 games played.
The 2005-06 season debuted the Jeff Jackson era; a man that Sheahan would eventually coach under in South Bend. The Irish witnessed an impressive one-year turnaround as they finished 13-19-4, eight more wins than the prior season. Sheahan had a solid year, totaling eight points in 36 games played as a sophomore.
As hinted at earlier, Sheahan experienced the lowest-of-lows and highest-of-highs in his playing time at Notre Dame. The 2006-07 year was peak for Irish hockey as they finished 32-7-3, marking the most wins in program history. Sheahan helped Notre Dame win the CCHA regular-season and tournament championships. While the Irish came up short in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the regional final, it did mark the farthest Notre Dame had appeared in the tournament. As a junior in this historic season, Sheahan finished the year with eight points in 42 games played while posting a +21 plus/minus.
In Sheahan’s final year at Notre Dame (2007-08), he was named an alternate captain as the Irish looked to carry their success from the prior season. While the team did not have the conference-play success they sought, the Irish still finished 27-16-4 with an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame caught fire in the tournament, making it to the National Championship before coming up short in the big game. During the Irish’s first-ever Frozen Four appearance, Sheahan tallied an assist in the 5-4 win versus Michigan. As arguably the team’s top defenseman, Sheahan finished the year with 13 points in 47 games played with a +21 plus/minus.
After going undrafted in the NHL Draft, Sheahan embarked on a five-year professional career, with four seasons in the ECHL and one in Germany’s second league. After spending the 2008-09 season with the Wheeling Nailers, the defenseman joined the Cincinnati Cyclones. Sheahan was a part of the Cyclones’ 2009-10 ECHL Championship season. The following year with the Cyclones, Sheahan was named an alternate captain. After two seasons in Cincinnati, Sheahan headed overseas to play with SC Riessersee in Germany’s second league. Following just one season in Germany, Sheahan then returned to the ECHL with the Ontario Reign in 2012-13 for the final year of his playing career. Sheahan finished his professional career with 98 points in 331 games played.
Coaching Career
Sheahan wasted no time setting up his future as a head coach as he re-joined the Notre Dame program as a volunteer assistant in the 2013-14 season, less than a year after ending his playing career.
After one year with his alma mater, Sheahan joined Holy Cross in 2014 as an Assistant Coach. He served as an assistant with the Crusaders from 2014-16, before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2016. He would spend two seasons in this role with Holy Cross.
In 2018, Sheahan joined the Chicago Steel of the UCHL as an Associate Head Coach. He earned his first full-time head coaching role in 2020 with the Steel, where he would become the winningest coach in the organization’s history. Sheahan amassed a record of 108-30-12-3, winning regular-season titles in 2019 and 2021. He would lead the Steel to a UCHL Playoff Championship in 2021.
After his time with the Steel, Sheahan was named Head Coach of the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, in 2022. Following just one 35-29-5 season with the Wolves, Sheahan decided to re-join his alma mater.
Sheahan accepted an Associate Head Coach position on Jeff Jackon’s staff in 2023, ultimately leading the program to the position it is in today. A year after being dubbed the ‘head coach-in-waiting,’ the time has come as Head Coach Sheahan officially takes over in 2025-26.
Introductory Press Conference
Notre Dame Hockey fans and supporters officially welcomed Sheahan on April 9 at his introductory press conference. Attended by the likes of fellow Notre Dame Head Coaches including Marcus Freeman, Micah Shrewsberry, and Niele Ivey, AD Pete Bevacqua opened the conference by ushering in Sheahan to the Irish family with some gracious remarks.
The former Irish defenseman opened his presser by acknowledging that “the opportunity to lead Notre Dame Hockey is a dream come true.” 12 years ago, Sheahan and his wife had a conversation regarding ‘what’s next?’ for Brock’s life in hockey. It was during this conversation that Sheahan realized “I could be the next head coach at the University of Notre Dame,” he said in a joking but serious manner. The next year, Sheahan chased this dream, beginning as a volunteer assistant in South Bend rather than continuing his professional playing career in Europe. He hinted that it was a struggle early, having to rely on his wife at times to support the family as he made his way through the coaching ranks at Notre Dame and Holy Cross. When he eventually received the opportunity to coach professionally, Sheahan “loved” the game but always knew “there’s only one place I would come back and that was here (Notre Dame).”
Sheahan shared this passion for Notre Dame throughout the press conference. He stated, “I honestly believe this is the best place in the world to go to school, to develop as a person, and, in our case, to compete and develop as a hockey player.” He acknowledged those who helped build the foundation of this program before him, including coaches Jeff Jackson, Dave Poulin, Paul Pooley, and Andy Slaggert.
The new coach finished his presser by acknowledging the future of the program. He believes “you’ll (fans and supporters) love the product that’s on the ice in the future.” Repeatedly, Sheahan mentioned that he wants to play fast and knows this requires players who can compete, have good hockey sense, and, obviously, are fast. He does not believe this is a rebuild, stating “We have way more talent than people think in our locker room.” He also pointed to zero players entering the transfer portal as another reason for this belief.
When asked about goals for the program, Sheahan stated the need to “recruit and develop players that are the right fit for Notre Dame hockey.” He acknowledged that everyone wants to win, but “we will not chase wins…we will chase the process every day, we’ll get better every day and that’s what you’ll see from our program and our players.” Sheahan will be searching for this level of compete and consistency from all of his players as he begins his tenure as the Head Coach at Notre Dame.
Time will tell if Brock Sheahan is the one who can bring National Championship-level success to South Bend. Though if anything is certain, it is this program will compete in everything they do with Sheahan's willingness to work behind the bench.
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