Return to the DEL
Spectacular coaching comeback in ice hockey
01/22/2025 – 1:58 p.mReading time: 1 min.
EHC Red Bull Munich’s search for a coach leads to a spectacular comeback. Don Jackson takes over the four-time German champions.
He’s back: Don Jackson is returning to the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) as coach of EHC Red Bull Munich. The 68-year-old will take over the position until the end of the season, succeeding Max Kaltenhauser, who had asked for a break for personal reasons.
“Of course it wasn’t my plan to return to the coaching chair again,” said Jackson. But after the request, he “didn’t hesitate for a second to help the organization.”
The most successful DEL coach with nine championship titles moved to the Bavarian capital around eleven years ago. He came with the reputation of winning five titles (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013) with his former team Eisbären Berlin. Fittingly, the first game under Jackson’s management is in Berlin on Thursday.
“I’m ready and now looking forward to the game in Berlin, which will be special in many ways,” said the American. Since winning the title in 2023, Jackson has helped the Munich team train coaches. Now he is temporarily returning to the gang as a trainer.
“After Max told us on Monday that he wanted to take a break, we discussed intensively together and came to the decision that Don as a coach is currently the best solution for us,” said sports director Christian Winkler. After around three months in office, Kaltenhauser asked this week to be relieved of his duties.