NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Notre Dame hockey Head Coach Jeff Jackson has announced the addition of veteran coach John Micheletto as a special assistant to the coaching staff.

A 24-year coaching veteran, Micheletto most recently served as the head coach at the University of Massachusetts from 2012-13 until 2015-16. Prior to UMass, he was an associate head coach at Vermont for five seasons and also was an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame for four seasons.  

"We are thrilled to have such an established coach and good man join our staff,” Jackson said. “John will assist our coaching staff and be a valuable resource with a fresh perspective. His knowledge and experience, including his time here at Notre Dame, will be beneficial for many facets of our program."

Micheletto began serving in his current role with the start of the 2016-17 season.

Micheletto’s addition combined with Jackson, Associate Head Coach Paul Pooley and Associate Coach Andy Slaggert give the Irish staff over 100 years of coaching experience.

Before his tenure at Vermont, Micheletto, a Chicago native, was an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame (1999-03) under former Irish head coach Dave Poulin. He also worked with Slaggert during his previous stint with the Irish.

Prior to Notre Dame, Micheletto was an assistant coach at Union College (1996-99). Before moving to the collegiate level, he spent five years (1991-96) in the prep ranks at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Micheletto served as the Dean of Students, an instructor of English, and a dorm parent.

Throughout his coaching career, Micheletto has recruited or coached over 30 NHL Draft selections who have played over 1,200 NHL games. Additionally, he has helped develop six undrafted free agents who have gone on to sign NHL contracts.   

Micheletto and his wife, Melinda, who will be an adjunct associate professional in the Mendoza College of Business, were married in 2004.

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Dan Colleran, associate athletics communications director at the University of Notre Dame, has been a part of Fighting Irish Media since August 2015 and coordinates all media and publicity efforts surrounding the Notre Dame hockey and golf programs. A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Colleran spent the previous three years working with the men’s hockey and soccer programs at Providence College. Colleran also spent two years as an Assistant Executive Director of Communications & Championships at the Iv