Michigan State hockey is making a power move this offseason, bringing in a familiar face with deep ties to the college game. The Spartans announced on May 8 that they have hired Andy Contois as an assistant coach, adding a wealth of experience from the junior, collegiate, and professional ranks.
Contois joins the MSU staff after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University. Before that, he served as associate head coach for the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL, where he helped guide the team to its first-ever Clark Cup championship in the 2022-23 season. His resume also includes assistant coaching stints with the Indy Fuel (ECHL), Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL), and Brookings Blizzard (NAHL).
"I'm excited and thankful to Coach Nightingale and his staff for this opportunity," Contois said in a press release. "Michigan State is one of the elite programs in college hockey, and what Coach Nightingale and his staff have built in East Lansing speaks for itself. I couldn't be more excited to get to work!"
The hiring has a personal touch: Contois and MSU head coach Adam Nightingale were teammates at Lake Superior State University for one season before Contois transferred to Northern Michigan. There, he put together a standout playing career, tallying 43 goals and 54 assists over four seasons and serving as an alternate captain during his senior year.
"We are excited to add Andy to our staff," Nightingale said. "His experience at the junior, collegiate and professional levels of hockey will be a great asset to our program."
Contois' playing career didn't stop after college. He spent three seasons in the ECHL across five different teams before embarking on a lengthy professional journey in Europe, competing in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. That international experience is sure to bring a unique perspective to the Spartan locker room.
While specific roles on the staff are still being determined, Contois will fill the vacancy left by Dan Sturges, who passed away in January. For a program looking to build on its recent momentum, this addition signals that Michigan State is serious about competing at the highest level of college hockey.