Coaching Staff

Program Director - Varsity Gold Head Coach

Spencer Montgomery leads Saint Ignatius Varsity Gold in his second season as Director and Head Coach. This will be his eighth year with the program after serving as Varsity Associate Head Coach for 6 seasons. He is a Level 5 USA Hockey Coach and in addition to Saint Ignatius, Spencer has coached for the Chicago Blackhawks Brick Teams, Chicago Stallions, Portland Junior Pirates (ME), and Bedford Bears (NY). Spencer was named the 2023 Chicago Catholic Hockey League Coach of the Year and was voted to coach the All-State and CCHL All Star Teams.

Spencer is excited to launch a new venture as Partner and General Manager at “The Barn”, Chicago’s first Original Six Hockey Bar. A puck’s throw away from Fifth Third Arena and the United Center, The Barn will be a gathering spot for hockey fans in Chicago. Prior to the Barn, Spencer spent nine seasons working for the Chicago Blackhawks where he served as Manager, Adult and High School Hockey Development. Spencer was born and raised in Portland, Maine and captained the Wheaton College (MA) club hockey team. Spencer also serves on the AHAI Board as the Chairman of the High School Hockey Committee.

Varsity Gold Associate Head Coach

Jeff Rogers is in his fifth year with the Wolfpack and second as Varsity Associate Head Coach after spending the previous two years as the JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant at Hinsdale Central. Jeff grew up in Orland Park and played youth hockey locally -- AA with the St. Jude Knights and Chicago Hawks; and AAA for Team Illinois. Jeff also played high school hockey at Marist where he was a 4-year varsity letterman and a senior captain. Following high school, Jeff played Division-III hockey at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, WI.

Jeff started his coaching career in 1994 as an Assistant Varsity coach with his alma mater. In his one year at Marist, Varsity won the Kennedy Cup Championship and finished second in state after falling to New Trier Green at the old Chicago Stadium. Jeff continued his coaching career with the Chicago Hawks organization where he coached his son Jack at the mite and squirt levels. Jeff is a Level 4 Certified USA Hockey Coach.

Jeff lives in Downers Grove with his wife Lynn, daughter Brigid, a nursing student at Saint Louis University, and son Jack – a sophomore at Saint Ignatius.

Varsity Gold Assistant Coach

Ian Tallett returns to St. Ignatius for his second year as Varsity Gold Assistant Coach. Growing up Ian played hockey and lacrosse in Massachusetts, New Jersey (Delbarton High School) and St. Louis (St. Louis Jr. Blues AAA). During high school Ian won 2 lacrosse state championships and was selected #5 overall in the USHL draft by the Chicago Steel, where he played in 05-06 earning a spot at the USHL All-star game and was recruited to Harvard University.  

At Harvard, Ian was a 4-year varsity letter-winner, 3-time ECAC all-academic selection and the 2008 recipient of the Donald Angier Trophy as the team’s most improved player.

Ian “went pro” at Morgan Stanley before rekindling his passion for hockey as captain of the Harvard Business School Blades during graduate school. Ian now works on strategic enterprise accounts and is the head of the Chicago office at Stripe; he lives in Lakeview with his wife Lauren and their daughters Addie (3) and Lily (6m).  

Varsity Gold Assistant Coach

Nick Ustaski rejoins the Saint Ignatius Wolfpack coaching staff as a Varsity Gold Assistant Coach and program advisor after living in Houston, Texas for the past four years. Nick has been involved with the program the past 7 years serving as both a coach, mentor, and advisor to the Varsity and JV teams. Nick grew up in Glenview, Illinois and played youth hockey locally with the Glenview Stars program. Nick also played high school hockey at Lake Forest Academy prep school where he was a four-year varsity lettermen and captain. Following high school, Nick played NCAA Division-III hockey at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and ACHA D-1 hockey at the University of Delaware. 

While at Delaware, Nick was the team captain, program leader and athletic representative to the school. He was also an academic All-American, second team all-league. Academically, Nick graduated Magma Cum Laude with a degree with distinction in history and foreign languages and literature and received numerous awards. Nick then continued his education at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, graduating cum laude.

Nick, a 5th year practicing lawyer and attorney, lives in Chicago in the Roscoe Village neighborhood and recently joined the law firm of Dykema Gossett PLLC’s Chicago office after four years at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. Nick is also a Level 4 USA Certified USA Hockey coach.

Goaltending Coach

Oliver has been coaching goalies since 2007 after his own retirement. He spent four years as the Goaltending Director for the CSDHL Falcons Hockey Association. In his four seasons as a Director, he moved 19 goalies on to higher levels (Tier 1, Prep, Juniors) and had two goalies make the Chicago Brick team. He helped the Falcons win their first USA Hockey National Championship and finish as finalist two other times.

Oliver is currently in his first year as the Goaltending Development Coordinator for USA Hockey in Illinois to help grow goaltending in the State. His other coaching responsibilities include Serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Mission Midget U15 (2006) and Bantam Minor (2008 teams). In his two years at the Mission, he had a goaltender move onto USA National Development Camp and helped the 2006 team reach the quarterfinals at Nationals in 2021. He helps various camps including the CCM Selects, CCM 68, and NSHDA.

His teaching philosophy is driven by building a strong detailed technical foundation and using situational examples based on his experience at the Minor Pro, Collegiate, and Junior level. He is keen on a relationship building approach to help teach the goalies as individuals and maximize their potential. Over the past five seasons in Chicago more than 10 of his private students have been selected to the Tier 1 level and various Junior levels including the OHL.

Oliver attended the University of Utah and achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Strategic Communication. He played four years for the university’s club team and was regularly summoned to duty for the ECHL (AA level pro) Utah Grizzlies as their emergency backup and practice goaltender after his collegiate career concluded. He currently serves as an emergency backup for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Oliver is an avid sports and music fan who enjoys playing soccer and attending concerts when he is outside the rink. He is 34, originally from San Francisco, CA and grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Varsity Maroon Head Coach

Michael Rigitano is in his sixth year with the Wolfpack and first as Varsity Maroon Head Coach. During his first and second year leading the JV team, the team finished in 1st place in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL) and won back-to-back CCHL DiCristina Cup Championships. In addition to coaching the Wolfpack, Mike has coached for the Chicago Stallions and Franklin Park Panthers.

Mike is a Chicago area native having graduated from and played for Montini Catholic. Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Teacher Licensure for Physical Education. Away from the rink Mike teaches middle school PE and Health at a school in the western suburbs. He is a Level 4 certified USA Hockey Coach and former intern in Fan Development/Youth Hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks. Mike also serves as a board member with Chicago Hockey Initiative (CHI).

Varsity Maroon Assistance Coach

Ryan Haraldsen is in his second year with the Wolfpack and first as Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach. Ryan is an alumni of Saint Ignatius and the Wolfpack Hockey Club, he attended the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and obtained a MBA and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. In addition to his educational accolades Ryan also played D-3 club hockey at Indiana. He is an Associate at KPMG in the Deal Advisory practice. Ryan is a Level 2 certified USA Hockey Coach and a Certified Personal Trainer.

Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach

Nick Santelli rejoins the Saint Ignatius Wolfpack coaching staff as a Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach after a year away from the club. In his first two years with the Wolfpack during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons Nick helped lead the JV team to back-to-back CCHL DiCristina Cup Championships. He has been coaching since 2016 and has coached for the Franklin Park Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks hockey camps, Saint Ignatius and New Trier. Nick is a graduate of Maine South HS and Lewis University where he studied Sport Management and played four years of D-II club hockey. Before playing college hockey Nick played junior hockey for the Illiana Blackbirds of the MNJHL for one season.

Away from the rink Nick owns his own business, NS Sport Performance & Wellness. Prior to owning his business, he worked for the Chicago Blackhawks in youth hockey ticket sales and was with the Colorado Avalanche in ticket sales prior to that. He is a NASM certified trainer, is a Level 3 certified USA Hockey Coach and is the Head Strength Coach for the Northern Express CSDHL Hockey Program.

Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach

Sean Markovitz is entering his first year with the Saint Ignatius Wolfpack coaching staff as a Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach, and fourth year coaching overall. Sean is a St. Louis native, he grew up playing hockey locally and spent four years playing varsity hockey at Eureka HS. He went on to play D-3 club hockey at the University of Notre Dame while earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry. After graduating, Sean moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he served as an Assistant Varsity Coach for the Portage Muskies for three years. He is a Level 1 certified USA Hockey Coach. Off the ice, Sean is a Sales Analyst at Ferrara Candy Company.