Seattle Kraken hire NHL's first-ever female assistant coach

The Seattle Kraken (32) etched their name in the history books on Wednesday by appointing assistant coach Jessica Campbell, marking her as the first full-time female coach behind a National Hockey League (NHL) bench.

Campbell, a former star of the Canadian women's national team and a former assistant coach with the Kraken minor league franchise Coachella Valley Firebirds for two seasons, will be teaming up with new head coach Dan Bylsma at the league's youngest franchise.

This historic hire follows a series of similar staff appointments in other major North American professional men's sports leagues in recent years, although top coaching roles have remained predominantly male-dominated.

Campbell has worked alongside Bylsma over the past two years while coaching at Coachella Valley, during which they led the franchise to the American Hockey League's championship series for two consecutive seasons.

Bylsma commented, "She has the ability to connect with players about their games and their impact on a team. She has shown that over the last two seasons."

Campbell's extensive professional hockey experience includes assisting the German men's national team in 2022 and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga's Nurnberg Ice Tigers.