In a landmark move, the Seattle Kraken have appointed Jessica Campbell to join head coach Dan Bylsma’s staff, making her the first-ever full-time female assistant coach on an NHL bench and only the second in league history.
The Washington Capitals previously broke ground by hiring Emily Engel-Natzke as the NHL’s first female video coordinator in June 2022.
Campbell has spent the last two seasons as an assistant on Bylsma’s staff with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Her hiring in 2022 marked her as the first woman to coach behind a bench in the AHL.
The 32-year-old’s tenure with Coachella Valley was marked by success, guiding the team to Calder Cup Final appearances in both seasons. She was responsible for overseeing the team’s forwards and power play, contributing to the Firebirds leading the AHL with 252 goals in the most recent season.
“I had to trust myself,” Campbell stated on Wednesday, according to team writer and broadcaster Alison Lukan. “I’m a big believer in being prepared to do the job every day and own my own voice … and not hold back in ways I can help and make a difference.”
Campbell expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming season under Bylsma’s leadership. “Mostly I’m excited to see how the team is going to become a better version of the Seattle Kraken under his leadership style,” she said.
Bylsma praised Campbell in a press release, emphasizing her dedication to player development. “During our tenure in Coachella Valley, I saw firsthand Jessica’s commitment to player development,” Bylsma said. “Her ability to establish relationships with her players, specifically Tye Kartye, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans, was an important factor in this hire. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her at the NHL level.”
Campbell’s prior experience includes serving as an assistant and skills coach with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL, Germany’s top men’s league, in the 2021-22 season.
A former professional player, Campbell played with the CWHL’s Calgary Inferno and the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden’s Damettan, now known as the NDHL. She also played four years at Cornell University beginning in the 2010-11 season.
Internationally, Campbell represented Canada at the 4 Nations Cup, the Under-18 Worlds, and the World Championship, securing gold and silver at the first two tournaments and a silver at the 2015 World Championship.
