Andy Slaggert Position: Assistant Coach Alma Mater: Notre Dame '89

Andy Slaggert, a two-time hockey monogram winner for the Irish, begins his 15th season as an assistant coach with the Notre Dame hockey program, providing a valuable link to recent Irish hockey history.

Slaggert is one of just three individuals to be involved with the Notre Dame hockey program for 17-plus seasons (see chart below) and holds the unique distinction of having played for the first two coaches of the modern era of Notre Dame - Lefty Smith and Ric Schafer - while also serving as an assistant for Schafer, Dave Poulin and Jeff Jackson.

A tireless worker with a keen eye for talent, Slaggert coordinates the program's highly successful recruiting plan that includes on-and-off campus recruiting and the observation and evaluation of prospective student-athletes.

Under Jackson, he works with the team's penalty-killing unit on a group and individual basis.

In announcing the addition of Slaggert to his new staff, Jackson said, "I'm extremely excited to be able to retain Andy Slaggert who I believe has done a tremendous job over the last several years at Notre Dame. The combination of Andy and Paul (Pooley) will give us one of the most recognized coaching staffs in the country. And, in the end, my hope is that we will have one of the most successful staffs in the country. Andy is someone who can lead Paul and I through the process of becoming more familiar with Notre Dame and, in turn, his passion for this University will rub off on both of us. That will give us the combination of experience and the element of pride in what this University represents."

During Slaggert's 14 previous seasons as an assistant, he has been involved in the recruiting of 24 players who were selected in the National Hockey League Draft including five players who were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. That group includes the first-ever, first-round draft choice for the Irish, defenseman Ian Cole who was selected by St. Louis with the 18th pick overall. Cole was joined by fellow defenseman Teddy Ruth, forwards Ryan Thang and Ben Ryan and goaltender Brad Phillips in last June's Draft. They will join Erik Condra and Kyle Lawson to give Notre Dame seven NHL draft choices on the roster.

The Irish also have had 19 players from the U.S. National Team Development Program matriculate to Notre Dame, with nine playing for the U.S. Junior National Team in the World Junior Championships.

The energetic and hard-working assistant has been highly involved with coaching on the national level since 1997.

During the summer of 2004, Slaggert reached his highest level, when he was named head coach of the U.S. Under-17 select team that went on to finish second at the Five Nations Tournament in Halle, Germany. The previous year (2003), the veteran assistant got his first taste of coaching with USA Hockey at the international level when he served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Under-18 Select team that captured the gold medal at the Under-18 World Cup held in the Czech Republic.

During the summers of 2002-05, the native of Saginaw, Mich., served as head coach at the United States Select 15 tournament held at St. Cloud State.

Since 1997, Slaggert has been involved in coaching Michigan Select teams. During the summer of 2000, he coached the Michigan Select 15 Junior Olympic Festival Team. In 1998, he served as a head coach at the Michigan State Select 16 Festival helping evaluate players who were competing for a chance to play in the national tournament. In June, he served as the head coach for the Michigan Select 16 Team that skated to the bronze medal at the National Select 16 Festival in Ann Arbor, Mich.

In the summer of 1997, Slaggert served as an assistant coach for Team Michigan at the United States Select 15 Festival. From 1997 to 2004 he served as a head coach and evaluator at the Michigan State Bantam Camp in Big Rapids, Mich.

Slaggert also was the primary moving force behind the Notre Dame hockey program's PowerPlay Run/Walk to benefit the fight against cancer. The first three events - held on the Sunday after the first Notre Dame home football game - drew increasing numbers to the point where the hockey program now is playing a charity intrasquad scrimmage to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

The 38-year-old Slaggert received his bachelor of arts degree from Notre Dame in 1989. He then went on to earn his master's degree in physical education from Ohio University in 1991.

A right wing for the Irish from 1986-89, Slaggert totaled seven goals and six assists over 55 games during his three-year Notre Dame career.

Slaggert's first venture into coaching came in 1989 with the Amerisport International European Hockey Tour and returned to Notre Dame in 1992. Slaggert and his wife Tara were married in the summer of 1996. The couple resides in South Bend with their sons, Graham (8), Landon (5) and Carter (3).