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. The 2026-27 season will be his fourth on the staff. 

His third season behind the bench brought multiple accolades to his defensive group, with junior Jake Livanavage once again earning All-NCHC First Team honors for the second straight year and capturing AHCA/CMM All-America First Team recognition while fellow junior blueliner Abram Wiebe enjoyed a breakout offensive season and earned an All-NCHC Second Team selection. Both Livanavage and Wiebe would make their NHL debuts at the conclusion of the season with Pittsburgh and Calgary, respectively. Freshman defenseman Keaton Verhoeff also earned NCHC All-Rookie Team honors after scoring the second-most goals by a U-18 blueliner in the NCAA in the last 20 years while his 20 points were the 14th most by a U-18 defenseman all-time. In June 2026, Verhoeff was selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2026 NHL Draft -- tied for the fifth-highest selection in program history. 

Simpson also took over the power play in 2025-26 and saw his group finish 10th in the nation and second in the NCHC at 25.7 percent. 

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.

THE DILLON SIMPSON FILE
Position: Assistant Coach
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Education: North Dakota (2014)
 
CAREER IN HOCKEY
AS A COACH
2023-present: North Dakota (Assistant Coach)
 
AS A PLAYER
2009-10: Spruce Grove (AJHL)
2010-14: North Dakota (NCAA)
2014-15: Oklahoma City (AHL)
2015-18: Bakersfield (AHL)
2016-17: Edmonton (NHL)
2018-23: Cleveland (AHL)