Dave Hakstol tabbed as interim head coach for Sun Devil Hockey
After playing the first two weekends of the season under acting head coach Mike Corbett, multiple reports are confirming that Arizona State has identified their interim head coach.
Dave Hakstol appears set to make his return to college hockey after leaving for the NHL ranks entering the 2015-16 season. In 11 seasons as head coach for North Dakota, Hakstol amassed a 289-143-43 record, winning three conference regular season titles (two WCHA, one NCHC) and four WCHA tournament championships. His teams qualified for the NCAA tournament in all 11 seasons, reaching the Frozen Four seven times and reaching the championship game once, a 4-1 loss to Denver in 2005.
Since leaving North Dakota, Hakstol was the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015-2018, and the inaugural head coach of the Seattle Kraken from 2021-2024. In 523 games at the NHL level, Hakstol coached to a record of 241-213-69 with three appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hakstol has most recently served as an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche under head coach Jared Bednar since 2025.
It is ironic that Hakstol has swooped in to take the head coaching job when his successor at North Dakota in Brad Berry was heavily linked to the role over the last couple of weeks.
It is unclear at this point whether the interim role will be for the duration of the season, or for a more limited period of time as the ongoing external investigation is completed. What is clear is that assistant head coach Mike Corbett will be placed on paid administrative leave with this decision.
No reports have emerged on who will fill out Hakstol's staff, but it appears that Jimmy Mullin will stay on the staff after being hired during the offseason. No word on the status of former NHL'er Taylor Pyatt, who joined the team as a volunteer assistant coach for this weekend's series against Holy Cross.
Arizona State will travel to UMass Lowell this weekend for a series against the Riverhawks. We will have more updates on this developing story as details emerge.
Comments