Arizona State University has named Dave Hakstol as the new head coach of its men's hockey program, bringing the experienced bench boss back to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Sun Devils introduced Hakstol during a news conference at Mullett Arena in Tempe on October 27, 2026.
Hakstol returns to the NCHC after previously serving as head coach at the University of North Dakota from 2004 to 2015, where he led the Fighting Hawks to seven Frozen Four appearances and two national championship games. His hiring signals Arizona State's continued commitment to building a competitive Division I program since joining the NCHC in 2024.
The appointment comes as the Sun Devils look to establish themselves in one of college hockey's premier conferences. Hakstol's extensive experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, including a stint as head coach of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018, provides the program with a proven leader familiar with the conference landscape.
