General | 5/16/2025 11:00:00 AM
The University of Notre Dame announced that Chicago Steel Head Coach and General Manager Mike Garman has been named the program's associate head coach. The hiring continues a lineage of USHL coaches who have advanced to the NCAA and NHL.
Garman has been with the Steel since the 2017-18 season, becoming head coach and general manager before the 2022-23 season. In eight seasons with the Steel, Garman made six appearances in the Clark Cup Playoffs, winning a Clark Cup in 2021 as an associate head coach under Notre Dame's recently appointed head coach, Brock Sheahan.
"We are extremely grateful to Mike for all of his contributions to the Steel, and we're excited to celebrate his ascension to the next level," said Steel president Dan Lehv.
Chicago went 269-159-31-14 for a .624 regular season winning percentage with Garman as part of the organization. The Vail, Colo. native was an assistant coach for the Steel from 2017-2020, an associate head coach during the 2020-21 season, and general manager for the 2021-22 season. During Garman's time, the Steel helped develop NHL first-round picks in Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres, 2021), Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets, 2023) and Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks, 2024).
"I am forever grateful for my time with the Chicago Steel,” said Garman. "Larry Robbins had a vision to create the premier player development model in junior hockey, which the Wirtz Corporation has continued to enhance, and I feel so fortunate to have worked in that environment for eight years. There have been countless great moments during my time with the Steel, but the most meaningful will always be the people. The entire staff and organization cares so much for the players and player experience, and I've learned so much from the coaches and consultants I got to work with. From the front office staff to the volunteers, billets, and everyone involved, thank you for your passion and dedication.”
Garman recently made his IIHF coaching debut with the U.S. as an assistant at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship, where the Americans won bronze.
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the world's leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede). More.