The South Carolina Stingrays are once again on the hunt for a head coach. Announced May 30th, Jared Nightingale has accepted a position with the Rockford IceHogs as Head Coach. Jared Nightingale joined South Carolina in the postseason of the 2023-24 season. The team was recovering from a poor record, which saw them with a 39-26 record, missing the playoffs. Leading to the third time in team history that they did not make the Kelly Cup finals, leading to the firing of the previous coach, Brenden Kotyk.
Return to Glory
During Nightingale’s time in the Low Country, South Carolina, the Stingrays achieved remarkable success. With a record-breaking season, the Stingray broke their franchise point record set in the 2017-18 season. Coming with that point record is the franchise’s most wins in team history. Under Nightingale’s leadership, the Stingrays held a regular season record of 52-15, garnering 109 points. Returning to the playoffs with a record of 3-4, earning six points, awarding them the coveted Brabham Trophy, and leading the ECHL in the 2024-25 regular season points. This powerhouse season, filled with outstanding plays, would win Nightingale the ECHL Coach of the Year award, a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Moving Foward
Coach Nightingale’s departure from Carolina marks his return to the IceHogs, a team with which he has a strong history. Jared previously with the IceHogs for three seasons before coming to Carolina, overseeing the special teams as Assistant Coach. His familiarity with the team and the role makes this a natural transition for Nightingale. The Stingrays are now in the process of identifying a new head coach to lead the team, and fans can rest assured that Nightingale’s successor will be chosen with the team’s best interests in mind.
ITR 49: For Real This Time – Inside The Rink
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