Coaching Staff

Program Director - Varsity Gold Head Coach

Spencer Montgomery leads Saint Ignatius Varsity Gold in his fourth season as Hockey Director and Head Coach. This will be his tenth year with the program after serving as Varsity Associate Head Coach for 7 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 a Partner and Director of Events at “The Barn”, Chicago’s first Original Six Hockey Bar located just down the road at Ogden & Adams. 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) ACHA hockey team. 

Varsity Gold Associate Head Coach

Jeff Rogers is in his seventh year with the Wolfpack and fourth as Varsity Gold Associate Head Coach. Prior to joining the Wolfpack, Jeff spent 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 hockey with the St. Jude Knights and Chicago Hawks and AAA hockey for Team Illinois. Jeff also played high school hockey at Marist High School 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 DePere, 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 Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse at Lurie Childrens Hospital and son Jack – a senior at Saint Ignatius.

Varsity Gold Assistant Coach

Nick has been involved with the program the past nine 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 Magna 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 7th year practicing lawyer and attorney, lives in Chicago in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park neighborhood working for 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 Director and 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.

Program Advisor & Assistant Coach

Ian Tallett returns to St. Ignatius for his fourth year as Varsity Gold Assistant Coach and Program Advisor. 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 and Lily.  

Varsity Maroon Head Coach

Michael Rigitano is in his eighth year with the Wolfpack and second 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 Associate Head Coach

Sean Markovitz is entering his third year with the Saint Ignatius Wolfpack coaching staff as a Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach, and fifth 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 DIII 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 2 certified USA Hockey Coach. Off the ice, Sean is a Brand Analyst at Ferrara Candy Company.

Varsity Maroon Assistant Coach

Andy Pape is in his first year with the Wolfpack and comes from 18 years of competitive hockey playing experience, and has been a coach of the game for 8 years. Andy's playing experience began at the AA level, playing Mites - Bantams at the Northern Express who skate out of Park Ridge, IL. He then went on to play four years for Maine Township Hockey Club, representing his high school, Maine South. Andy played two years at the Varsity level, serving as assistant captain his senior year. Andy wrapped up his competitive play at the University of Iowa where he represented the Hawkeyes at the ACHA Division II level. The 2022-2023 Hawkeyes took second place at the ACHA DII National Tournament.

Andy began coaching at his home rink, Oakton Ice Arena, when he was 16 years old. He ran learn to play classes, coached in-house hockey, and held private lessons throughout his high school & college days. Since graduating from the University of Iowa, Andy has coached two full seasons for the Northern Express Hockey Club in Park Ridge. He spent his first year head coaching the Mite AA team and assistant coaching the Bantam Major CSDHL team. Last season, he was the head coach of both Mite AA and Squirt Minor CSDHL. Alongside the Express, Andy also has experience with the Blackhawks Amateur Hockey department, running youth camps, and assisting with their in-house learn to play program. He is currently a USA Hockey certified level 2 coach.

Junior Varsity Head Coach

David Rutkowski is entering his second year as Junior Varsity Head Coach with the Wolfpack after spending two seasons as Junior Varsity Head Coach and Varsity Assistant at OPRF. David began his coaching career in 2020 as an assistant Junior Varsity coach at Buffalo Grove, Hersey, Wheeling Hockey club for two years.

David grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois and played youth hockey at various Central States travel clubs. During his senior year of high school, David became the assistant captain of the Chicago Bulldogs in NA3HL. Following high school, David played ACHA D-1, D-2 and D-3 hockey at Iowa State University Cyclones and was a runner up ACHA D-1 National Champion in 2019.

In 2020, David graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Finance. David resides in Chicago in the Bucktown neighborhood. He works for Harbor Capital Advisors as an internal wholesaler. In his free time, David continues to play hockey at Johnny’s Ice House, watching the Blackhawks and playing golf.

Junior Varsity Associate Head Coach

Gregory Lewis is in his second year with the Wolfpack as an Assistant Coach with our Junior Varsity after spending the previous two seasons as the Junior Varsity Assistant Coach at St. Charles Prep in Columbus, OH. During his last season as Assistant Coach with St. Charles Prep, the team won the Capital District Hockey Regular season title and made it to the final four of the Varsity B/ Junior Varsity State Tournament. Prior to St. Charles Gregory coached six years of minor hockey in Central Ohio. A native of Pittsford, NY, Gregory played for several youth travel teams. He also played four years of Varsity hockey for Pittsford High School, serving as a team captain his senior year. Coach Lewis lives in Lincoln Park and retired from a career in the financial services industry. Gregory is Level 3 certified USA Hockey coach.

Junior Varsity Assistant Coach

Anthony Nguyen is entering his first year of coaching with Saint Ignatius after head coaching with the Chicago Stallions for two years. Prior to the Stallions, Anthony was a voluntary head coach with the non-profit organization Inner City Education in Chicago. Anthony is a level 5 certified USA hockey coach and works with Ford Hockey School. Anthony played varsity high school hockey as a forward and played defense for his club team at the University of Michigan. Anthony eventually picked up goaltending in 2020 and currently plays in adult leagues as a defenseman and goalie.

Anthony graduated from Michigan with a degree in Philosophy and went to law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Anthony was an attorney at Jenner & Block for 8 years, was the Inspector General for a state agency for two years, and is now litigation senior counsel at Katten & Temple LLP. Anthony is also a staff photographer for Chicago Theatre and the Riot Fest music festival. Anthony lives in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago with his partner and two ridiculous cats.