[2] Ireland then spent five years (1998–2003) at the helm of the Dayton Bombers, serving as head coach and general manager of hockey operations.

[6] The Griffins made the Calder Cup playoff semifinals in Ireland's first full season as head coach (2005–06).

[10] Ireland was hired by Swiss side HC Lugano in February 2011 only a couple of days before the start of the relegation round.

He signed with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League in August 2011[12] and stepped down from his head coaching position in July 2015 to accept an offer from Germany:[13] He signed with Adler Mannheim, defending champion of the German elite league Deutsche Eishockey Liga, for the 2015–16 campaign,[14] but was sacked in February 2016 after a five-game losing streak.

[19] On July 16, 2022, Ireland moved to the KHL after agreeing to become the head coach of Chinese club, Kunlun Red Star.