With the addition of Contois, Nightingale will carry three assistant coaches for the first time since taking over the program in 2022. The NCAA limit is four total coaches. 

Contois' appointment follows the loss of Director of Hockey Operations Dan Sturges, who died unexpectedly in January. MSU has yet to name a new director of hockey operations amid the redistribution of staff responsibilities. 

The Marquette, Michigan native joins MSU following two seasons as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan (2024-26), his alma mater from 2002-06. Out of college, Contois played 10 seasons professionally, three in the ECHL and seven in Europe. 

Contois' experience comes primarily from junior hockey and the United States Hockey League, where Contois was the associate head coach of the Youngstown Phantoms from 2021-24. He coached 20 NHL draft picks in three seasons. The Phantoms won their first USHL Clark Cup title under Contois' coaching in 2022-23. 

At the professional level, Contois was an assistant coach for the ECHL’s Indy Fuel from 2019-21 during the organization’s 2020-21 playoff berth. The Fuel led the ECHL in American Hockey League call-ups during Contois’ time on staff.  

Contois also served as an assistant coach for the USHL’s Central Illinois Flying Aces (2017-19) and the North American Hockey League’s Brookings Blizzard (2015-17).

The new MSU hire has coaching experience within junior, collegiate and professional hockey, which Nightingale called an "asset." The two were briefly teammates at Lake Superior State (2001-02).