Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University has announced Tyler Morgan will serve as the head hockey coach for the Defenders in 2020-21.
“Tyler is energetic and passionate about coaching hockey and will be a great asset to our university moving forward. He’s had success at several levels and stops in his coaching career. I look forward to seeing him integrate his faith into coaching our hockey team and leading the young men in his charge,” said Dordt athletic director Ross Douma.
Morgan had served as the program’s associate coach and director of recruiting during the 2019-20 season. Prior to joining the Defender staff he coached the Sioux Falls Flyers to back to back overall league championships, back to back state title games and a state championship in 2019. Morgan coached the Windom Area Eagles in 2015-16 and he also spent a season in Alaska where he coached varsity and U-18 hockey. He also coached two years in Idaho where he was a varsity head coach as well. Morgan coached two teams to USA Hockey National Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2018 and finished in the top-five in each of those appearances.
“I love the prospect of being able to weave my faith into my coaching freely,” said Morgan. “I am excited about the challenge of helping young men grow as hockey players, but more importantly as future husbands and fathers.”
Morgan follows Nate van Niejenhuis who served as the head coach of the program for seven seasons from 2005-09 and most recently from 2017-20. He guided Dordt to an ACHA Division III National Tournament fifth place finish in 2009 and was named the Pacific Region Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year at the conclusion of that season.
“Nate has been a tremendous leader of the young men in our hockey program. He has given much to the hockey program and has been a strong advocate for our hockey team and athletes and we are thankful for the years he has given Dordt,” said Douma.
Van Niejenhuis will continue to serve at Dordt as the Director of Facilities and Services, a role he has been in since 2017.
The Defender hockey program is a part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the Mid American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA).
