Dillon Simpson

Dillon Simpson

Former North Dakota defenseman and team captain Dillon Simpson returned to the program as the program's first full-time third assistant coach prior to the 2023-24 season. This upcoming year will be his third on staff.

During the 2024-25 campaign, Simpson once again saw his defensive group shine -- highlighted by sophomore Jake Livanavage earning AHCA/CCM All-America Second Team and All-NCHC First Team honors -- with the latter accolade being the first UND underclassman defenseman to do so since 2000-01. Fellow sophomore Abram Wiebe also exploded offensively, ranking third on the team with 20 assists and fourth on the squad with 24 points while rookies EJ Emery, Andrew Strathmann and Jayden Jubenvill all took major development strides. 

In his first season behind the bench in 2023-24, Simpson took over a defensive group that went through complete change, as North Dakota became the first team in college hockey history to not have a single returner on the blue line. Despite having eight new players in the fold, Simpson helped UND improve in nearly every defensive metric and saw multiple players earn conference accolades, including freshman Jake Livanavage being named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team after scoring the most points by a UND rookie defenseman this century. 

Simpson returned to North Dakota following a strong professional playing career, amassing nearly 500 career games in the American Hockey League over nine seasons. After spending four years with the Edmonton Oilers organization, Simpson spent his final five seasons with the Cleveland Monsters, wearing a letter for the team in each of those years.

He served as the captain for the Monsters from 2021-23, earning the organization’s man of the year award this spring for his off-ice contributions to the community.

Simpson spent four seasons at North Dakota from 2010-14, helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the four years, including two NCAA Frozen Four berths in 2011 and 2014. Over his career, Simpson appeared in 156 games for the green and white, tallying 16 goals and 59 assists for 75 points.

The Edmonton, Alberta, native captained the 2013-14 UND squad to the NCAA Frozen Four, knocking off top-seeded Wisconsin and Ferris State in the regionals in Cincinnati.

Simpson earned his bachelor’s degree in managerial finance and accounting from North Dakota in 2014. Dillon and his wife, Haley, reside in Grand Forks, N.D, with their two daughters Stevie and Halston.