The ECHL has announced that Jared Nightingale of South Carolina’s Stingrays has been named the 2024-2025 Coach of the Year and will receive the John Brophy award. This is Nightingale’s first season as head coach with the Stingrays and his first as a head coach in the ECHL.
Last season, the Rays parted ways with their head coach after failing to make the postseason and lacking general motivation on the ice. Enter Nightingale, this was his third season with the American Hockey League’s Rockford Icehogs, with experience under his belt with the USHL and the OHL, he made the jump. Nightingale joined the Stingrays in May of 2024, looking to make changes and bring back the team that Charleston and the rest of South Carolina knew. His 13-year professional hockey experience, split between the AHL and ECHL, led to noticeable improvements. In 472 AHL games and 202 ECHL games, Nightingale accumulated 102 points—23 goals, 79 assists—and 1,534 penalty minutes. Growing up in Michigan, being coached by his father, and having two brothers who also coach add to the wealth of advice and experience at his disposal.
Enter the chat: Season 2024–25. Coach Nightingale made it clear he wasn’t coming to play around. In November, he stated, “Trying to make every player feel valuable—’cause they are. These guys are in and out of the lineup. I mean, look at what we’re going through right now. Our depth is getting tested, and every player is important.”
December put that philosophy to the test, challenging the team’s grit and revealing what they were truly made of. The adversity led to valuable ice time for players who hadn’t seen much earlier in the season. By year’s end, many of those same players had notched 20+ goals and finished with double-digit plus/minus ratings.
He was taking names—and making sure the players took notice. Under his leadership, the Stingrays didn’t just climb the standings—they dominated, finishing as one of the league’s top teams in points while chasing down records set years ago. Nightingale held his squad accountable, including one of the best penalty-killing units in the ECHL this season.
The numbers speak for themselves: a 72.2% win rate, 279 goals scored, and just 161 goals allowed. On special teams, the Stingrays battled through 241 short-handed situations and successfully killed off 207 of them, solidifying their place among the league’s elite.
“This is a true team award,” said Nightingale. “I would like to thank our owner, Todd Halloran, and our president, Rob Concannon, for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to coach this team. Their investments in our team have enabled us to succeed on the ice this year. I want to thank our players for their hard work and for being great teammates. They have been executing at a high level all year and have been very coachable and fun to work with. I want to thank our entire staff. They have been outstanding this year. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with our assistant coaches, Scott Davidson and Mike Hamilton, our Head Athletic Trainer, Julia Phillips, and our Head Equipment Manager, Chuck Liebenrood. We have a great culture and a family atmosphere here, and it’s fun to show up at the rink every day. I would also like to thank Jason Fitzsimmons, the Hershey Bears, and the Washington Capitals. This is my first head coaching job, and they have been very supportive and have always been a phone call away. Finally, I want to thank our fans for their support all year. They are a major reason for our success and create an incredible atmosphere at the North Charleston Coliseum.” (ECHL, 2025)
With the proof in the pudding, it’s no surprise that Jared Nightingale has earned this honor. South Carolina didn’t just improve its on-ice performance this season—they elevated their entire game. From team culture to community presence, the Stingrays under Nightingale have reshaped the hockey environment in the Lowcountry, setting a new standard for seasons to come.
The John Brophy Award is the trophy presented annually to the ECHL coach selected to have contributed the most to his team’s success, as chosen by a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors, and media members. The award has been presented since 1989. Nightingale is one of only three SC coaches to be selected for this award: Spencer Carbury won in 2013-14 and currently coaches the Washington Capitals. Steve Bergin, who won in 2019-20, is an assistant coach with Sacred Heart University.
South Carolina takes on Orlando Friday, April 18th, for game one of round one for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Puck drops in the Low Country at 7:05 pm EST.
ECHL. (2025, April 16). South Carolina’s Nightingale receives John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year. https://echl.com/news/2025/04/south-carolinas-nightingale-receives-john-brophy-award-as-echl-coach-of-the-year
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