South Carolina's Nightingale Receives John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year

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South Carolina's Nightingale Receives John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year

April 16, 2025 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


SHREWSBURY, N.J. - The ECHL on Wednesday announced that Jared Nightingale of the South Carolina Stingrays is the 2024-25 recipient of the John Brophy Award as the league's Coach of the Year.

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 selected in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members. The trophy is named for John Brophy, who won a record three ECHL titles with Hampton Roads in 1991, 1992 and 1998, and was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ron Choules of Trois-Rivières finished second in the voting, followed by Florida's Brad Ralph, Pat Mikesch of Toledo and Iowa's Derek Damon.

The winner of the Nick Vitucci Goaltender of the Year Award will be announced on Thursday.

In his first season with the team, Nightingale led the Stingrays to a 52-15-5 record for 109 points, setting team records for most wins and points in a season. South Carolina captured the Brabham Cup as regular-season champions for the second time in team history, and its 29 home wins are tied for the third-highest total in a single-season in ECHL history.

Prior to joining the Stingrays, Nightingale spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs, after previously serving in assistant coaching roles with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit and United States Hockey League's U.S. National Under-17 Team and the Omaha Lancers.

During his playing career, Nightingale skated in 472 AHL games and 202 ECHL games, totaling 102 points (23g-79a) and 1,534 penalty minutes.

John Brophy Award Winners (ECHL Coach of the Year)

2024-25 Jared Nightingale, South Carolina Stingrays

2023-24 Andrew Lord, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

2022-23 Everett Sheen, Idaho Steelheads

2021-22 Jeff Pyle, Atlanta Gladiators

2020-21 Bruce Ramsay, Wichita Thunder

2019-20 Steve Bergin, South Carolina Stingrays

2018-19 Matt Thomas, Cincinnati Cyclones

2017-18 Brad Ralph, Florida Everblades

2016-17 Dan Watson, Toledo Walleye

2015-16 Richard Matvichuk, Missouri Mavericks

2014-15 Derek Lalonde, Toledo Walleye

2013-14 Spencer Carbery, South Carolina Stingrays

2012-13 Jarrod Skalde, Cincinnati Cyclones

2011-12 Rob Murray, Alaska Aces and John Wroblewski, Gwinnett Gladiators

2010-11 Brent Thompson, Alaska Aces

2009-10 Derek Laxdal, Idaho Steelheads

2008-09 Rick Kowalsky, Trenton Devils

2007-08 Chuck Weber, Cincinnati Cyclones

2006-07 Davis Payne, Alaska Aces

2005-06 Glen Gulutzan, Las Vegas Wranglers

2004-05 Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm

2003-04 Pat Bingham, Wheeling Nailers

2002-03 Claude Noel, Toledo Storm

2001-02 Dave Farrish, Louisiana Ice Gators

2000-01 Troy Ward, Trenton Titans

1999-00 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades

1998-99 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades

1997-98 Chris Nilan, Chesapeake IceBreakers

1996-97 Brian McCutcheon, Columbus Chill

1995-96 Roy Sommer, Richmond Renegades

1994-95 Jim Playfair, Dayton Bombers

1993-94 Barry Smith, Knoxville Cherokees

1992-93 Kurt Kleinendorst, Raleigh IceCaps

1991-92 Doug Sauter, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds

1990-91 Don Jackson, Knoxville Cherokees

1989-90 Dave Allison, Virginia Lancers

1988-89 Ron Hansis, Erie Panthers

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