[1] After retiring from coaching for about six years, Dahl returned to help Chris Schultz at SUNY Geneseo starting in 2011-12 and later continuied as a volunteer assistant at Nazareth.
Dahl moved east for 1985-86, taking over at Wisconsin–River Falls before receiving the opportunity to serve under storied college coach Herb Brooks as an assistant with St.
[4] Dahl remained as an assistant for only one season, however, as Brooks moved back to the NHL to coach the Minnesota North Stars the next year.
With the Huskies playing as a D-I independent starting in 1987-88, Dahl was offered the head coaching duties and proceeded to serve in that position for the next 19 years.
In only his second year, Dahl led the Huskies to their first tournament berth but lost both games against defending champion Lake Superior State in the first round.