David Carle Is An NHL-Worthy Coach Who Looks Better Off In The NCAA

TL;DR

David Carle won his third NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver, marking his fourth Frozen Four appearance in eight years. Despite his success, the stability of NCAA coaching may deter him from pursuing an NHL coaching position.

Key points

David Carle won his third NCAA National Championship.
He has made four Frozen Four appearances in eight years.
Carle is a former NHL draft pick.
He retired early due to a heart condition.
Coaching stability at Denver may deter NHL opportunities.

Mentioned in this story

University of Denver

NCAA National Championship

Coach David Carle won his third NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver in the last five years earlier this month.

Carle, 35, is no stranger to winning, as this year marked the fourth visit to the Frozen Four and sixth national tournament appearance during his eight years coaching Denver's men's hockey program.

The former NHL draft pick has done enough to deserve a coaching gig in The Show. But the stability of coaching at Denver and the lack of it in the NHL may prevent an NHL-caliber coach from working behind a bench there.

That does not take away what he's accomplished since being forced to retire early in 2008 before his freshman year at Denver due to a heart condition diagnosis.

"To kind of see what he's been able to overcome and what he's built that program into... aside from that, he's won the world juniors both times he's been behind the USA bench, and it's just been awesome as his friend to see the level of success he's been able to have," said Drew Shore, who played at Denver while Carle shifted from the ice to the bench.

The former seventh-round pick worked as a student assistant coach for Denver's program while he attended there, and he got his first pro assistant coaching job with the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States League.

After roughly one-and-a-half seasons off the University of Denver campus, Carle signed as an assistant coach for the Pioneers behind coach Jim Montgomery before winning a National Championship in 2017. In 2018, Montgomery left for the NHL, and Carle took the reins of the program.

Since 2021, Carle has won three National Championships and was named coach of the year in 2023-24.

Carle also won gold twice with Team USA at the 2024 and 2025 world juniors.

"One of the reasons though that makes him great is he's a competitor, and I think that ultimately, that competitive drive in him is going to want to win Stanley Cups and do it again at the next level," Shore said.