The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a fantastic year. Sure, the football team went 3-9 and the men’s basketball team was embarrassed in the second round of March Madness. But the unexpected success of the hockey team makes it all worthwhile, right?

Notre Dame’s hockey history isn’t the stuff of movies – the Irish didn’t even bother to ice a team between 1928 and 1968. But under the watchful eye of coach Jeff Jackson, the Irish reached their first-ever Frozen Four last month. Then on Apr. 10, Notre Dame beat the Michigan Wolverines 5-4 in overtime to advance to the Finals.

The party ended two days later when the Boston College Eagles won the championship 4-1. The Irish may have lost in the end, but this is not a one-and-done story. Jackson has coached and advised at every level of the sport, including the U.S. Olympic team. He’s already won two NCAA titles coaching Lake Superior State University; more will come.