Campbell Becomes First Woman to Coach in NHL with Kraken Assistant Role

Jessica Campbell made history on Wednesday when she became the first woman to be named an NHL coach as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken.

“I`m humbled, obviously, to be in this position,” Campbell said. You speak to the word first, to be the first. But that’s never really where my focus is, it’s always on the work, it’s on the impact, it’s on the job. There’s a lot to this game and to this job, and so, I’ve never taken it for granted.

“Though I am honored to be the first, I don’t want to be the only, and I honestly don’t feel like I’m the only in this organization. That’s also a very special feeling to be part of the Seattle Kraken organization and the staff and to stand by all the other remarkable women in this this League that are maybe not behind the benches. But there’s a long list of incredible women that are doing phenomenal jobs, here in management, scouting, player development. I’m just excited to do my part now behind the bench.”

Campbell, 32, joined the Kraken organization two seasons ago as an assistant with Seattle’s Coachella Valley affiliate in the American Hockey League. She was the first female coach in AHL history.

Dan Bylsma has been the coach of the Coachella Valley for the past two seasons. He was named coach of the Kraken on May 28 after leading the Firebirds to consecutive appearances in the Calder Cup, the AHL’s championship series. Coachella Valley lost both appearances to Hershey.

He replaces Dave Hakstol, the first coach in the franchise’s four-year history. Hakstol was fired after the Kraken went 34-35-13 last season, falling 17 points short of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bylsma, who won a Stanley Cup as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, said he was impressed with Campbell’s work ethic and her ability to help develop young talent. He cited forwards Ty Carty and Shane Wright, and defenseman Ryker Evans as examples.

Carty attracted attention after being called up during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This season, the undrafted forward appeared in 77 regular season games and recorded 20 points (11 goals and nine assists). Shane Wright, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, recorded four points in eight NHL games this season. Evans, 22, appeared in 36 NHL games last season and recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists).

“Over the last two years the work with Tye Kartye and Shane Wright and Ryker Evans has clearly been evident,” Bylsma said. “She`s been able to develop those players, develop them as people and, most importantly, as hockey players. Jess is going to be working with the forwards and I am super excited about that.”

Campbell will also work on the power play, supporting veteran assistant Bob Woods, who was also hired Wednesday. The 56-year-old was an NHL assistant with the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres.

“With Jess helping me here, she’s going to be awesome,” Woods said. “I’ve only known her for a few days, but she’s good, she’s really good. And she’s going to be very beneficial for me.”

Seattle general manager Ron Francis first learned of Campbell when she was an assistant coach with the German men’s national team. Former NHL teammate Tom Lowe was also in the German program and recommended Campbell as someone who could teach skills and help behind the bench.

Francis jumped at the chance, hiring her in the Coachella Valley and closely watching her handle the added responsibilities and pressures.

To say he was impressed is an understatement.

“I`ve had the opportunity to watch her work the last couple years,” Francis said. “Probably not something she liked, but I sat in some power-play meetings that she was presenting, just to kind of get a sense of how it was going. And, you know, she’s got a real good knowledge of the game, a real good skill set in the development part as well. So I think the staff complements each other. And I think Dan’s done a good job putting it all together. We’re excited to see what it holds for us going forward.”

Campbell played four seasons of NCAA hockey at Cornell University and then played professionally in Canada and Sweden. She eventually became a skating and technical coach, building a client base that included several NHL players.

Around that time, she began thinking about becoming a trainer. She didn’t know how this would happen, but intuitively believed she had the potential to reach this level.

Now she’s here and ready to embrace the opportunity.