Gardner joined the St. Lawrence University men's hockey staff as an assistant coach in September 2025.
Gardner joins the Saints following a tenure as Associate Head Coach at Mercyhurst University (2014–2025), where he played a pivotal role in player development, recruiting, and video analysis. During his time at Mercyhurst, Gardner helped guide the Lakers to multiple Atlantic Hockey Frozen Four appearances, including a Regular Season AHA title in 2017–18, when the team led the conference in power play scoring at 23.5%. That season also saw five players earn All-AHA honors. Under Gardner's tutelage, freshman goaltender Adam Carlson signed an NHL contract with the Washington Capitals in 2016, becoming the sixth player in program history to do so.
Prior to Mercyhurst, Gardner spent three seasons at Princeton University, where he oversaw recruiting and player development. His work contributed to the growth of future NHL players, including goaltender Michael Condon. Gardner also served five seasons at his alma mater, Niagara University, helping lead the Purple Eagles to two CHA regular-season titles, a CHA tournament championship, and an NCAA tournament appearance.
As a player, Gardner was a standout goaltender at Niagara, graduating cum laude with a degree in commerce and psychology. In the 1999–2000 season, he led the NCAA in goals-against average (1.53) and set an NCAA record with 12 shutouts in a single season. He guided Niagara to CHA regular-season and tournament titles, and an NCAA tournament upset over top-seeded New Hampshire. Gardner was named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team and earned Niagara's Student-Athlete of the Year and Ockerman Award as the top business student.
Following graduation, Gardner became the first-ever NHL signee of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and the first NHL contract signee from Niagara University. His professional career spanned seven seasons in the AHL, ECHL, and Germany's ESBG Bundesliga, where he earned All-ECHL Second Team honors and was named Bundesliga Goaltender of the Year in 2006.
