2026 U.S. Men’s National Team coaching staff finalized

USA Hockey

2026 U.S. Men’s National Team coaching staff finalized originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

USA Hockey has announced that Kevin Dean, Darby Hendrickson, Ty Hennes and Brandon Naurato have been named the assistant coaches for the 2026 U.S. Men's National Team.

The announcement came from USA Hockey on the morning of April 23. Additionally, Thomas Speer will serve as goaltending coach with Lawrence Feloney and Matt DeMado will be the acting video coaches. The staff is rounding out to support Don Granato who was previously named as head coach of the 2026 U.S. Men’s National Team. Brett Peterson was previously named as the team's general manager.

This latest development comes as the U.S. Men's National Team will compete in the upcoming 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.

Team USA enters the tournament as the defending gold medalist and all Team USA games will be televised live by NHL Network.

Full coaching staff unveiled for 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship

Dean is serving on the staff of a U.S. Men’s National Team for the second consecutive year after helping lead Team USA to its first gold medal in the IIHF Men’s World Championship in 92 years only one year ago.

Hendrickson is making his first appearance as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team coaching staff. He previously competed for Team USA on the international stage on seven different occasions, including the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and six straight years (1996-2001) in the IIHF Men’s World Championship, including helping the U.S. to a bronze medal in 1996.

Hennes — who just completed his first season as an assistant coach with the — will be serving as an assistant coach of the of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the second time after supporting the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team in a similar role.