Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell will explore other coaching roles in the National Hockey League, the team said Thursday, as her current contract expires.
General manager Jason Botterill said Campbell has told the club she wants to look at opportunities across the league and that Seattle supports her through the process. The move closes a notable run in the organization for Campbell, who joined the Kraken in July 2024 and became the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history to work behind the bench during the regular season.
Botterill said Campbell had been an important part of the coaching staff for the past four years, pointing to her deep knowledge of the game and her ability to connect with and develop players. The Kraken said they respect her decision and believe strongly in her as a coach in this league.
Campbell originally joined the organization in July 2022 and spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle’s American Hockey League affiliate. The Firebirds reached the Calder Cup Final in both of those seasons, giving Campbell a high-profile track record before she moved up to the NHL staff.
Her next stop now becomes the central question. Campbell leaves Seattle with a résumé that has already changed the league’s expectations, and the Kraken will have to replace one of the more distinctive voices on their bench as they move into the next phase of their coaching staff.