Seattle Kraken hire Jessica Campbell as first woman assistant coach in NHL history

The Seattle Kraken has made National Hockey League history. Seattle hired the first woman to a team’s coaching staff in league history.

The team announced that Jessica Campbell would join the Kraken as an assistant coach. Campbell joined the Kraken’s coaching staff after a successful stint in the AHL, where she also made a similar history as an AHL coaching staff member.

“The Seattle Kraken have added Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, making her the first woman to be named an assistant, associate, or head coach in NHL history,” the league’s X account posted on Wednesday afternoon.

The @SeattleKraken have added Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, making her the first woman to be named an assistant, associate or head coach in NHL history. pic.twitter.com/fr26CouHdI

— NHL (@NHL) July 3, 2024

“Campbell came on board with the Firebirds during the 2022-23 inaugural season to be a vital part of the AHL’s Calder Cup Final as the first woman to be an assistant coach in the AHL,” the Kraken wrote on their official website. The post on their website says Campbell “caught the attention of pro hockey coaching circles as an assistant coach for Germany at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.” Since then, she has been on an apparent upward trajectory.

Now she’s here and will make history. New head coach Dan Bylsma had nothing but great things to say about her. “She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team,” he said via the post.

Congrats to Jessica Campbell on making sports history.

[Kraken.com]