Kraken hire Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods as assistant coaches

Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods have been hired as assistant coaches for the Seattle Kraken, the team announced on Wednesday.

Campbell, 32, becomes the first female to be hired full-time as an assistant coach in the NHL, while Woods, 56, joins the organization after spending parts of the last seven seasons with the Minnesota Wild.

Campbell broke ground two seasons ago as the first woman in AHL history to hold a full-time assistant coach position. She made headlines once more on Sept. 25, 2023, when she coached a Kraken preseason game against the Calgary Flames at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, joining a select group of women who have coached behind an NHL bench.

Now, she takes perhaps her biggest step yet by ascending to the NHL.

“This is an important day for our organization,” general manager Ron Francis said. “We’re bringing in valuable coaching experience to our staff and are confident that both Bob and Jessica will make an immediate impact for our team.”

A native of Rocanville, Saskatchewan, Campbell helped lead the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL to two consecutive Calder Cup Finals in 2022-23 and 2023-24, where they lost to the Hershey Bears both times. With Coachella Valley, she managed the forward corps and power play and is well-regarded in the Seattle organization for her ability to develop prospects.

“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 name began circulating in rumors that she could join the NHL staff after Bylsma, who initially hired Campbell for her AHL role on July 4, 2022, was promoted to head coach of the Kraken in May.

During Bylsma’s introductory press conference on May 28, Kraken general manager Ron Francis suggested that Campbell would be considered for a promotion. “We didn’t hire her [for Coachella Valley] because she’s a woman; we hired her because she’s a good coach,” Francis said. “She has an impressive background in skating and skill development, which has been integral to Coachella Valley’s success. She oversees the power play, works with our forwards, and helps everyone improve their skating and skills.”

Bylsma took over from Dave Hakstol, who was relieved of his duties as Kraken head coach on April 29 after three seasons. Assistant coach Paul McFarland also departed at that time, and Jay Leach later departed to join the Boston Bruins, creating openings for Campbell and Woods.

Campbell has long said that her childhood dream was to become the first woman to reach the NHL as a player. When she realized that dream wouldn’t come to fruition, she shifted her focus to coaching after attending Cornell University and playing professionally for the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.

Throughout her coaching career, she has helped players at all levels from juniors to the NHL improve their individual skills, proving to be a valuable asset to the Kraken organization.

Woods’ coaching career spans nearly three decades, including NHL assistant coaching roles in Washington, Anaheim, and Buffalo, where he previously worked with Bylsma. He has also served as a GM, head coach, and assistant coach in the AHL, ECHL, and WHL.

“After spending a season together in Buffalo, I’m excited to be reunited with Bob here in Seattle,” Bylsma said. “Bob’s resume speaks for itself – he has worked with some of the NHL’s top defensemen in Washington, Minnesota and Anaheim, and I know he will bring valuable experience to our locker room.”

Woods will be responsible for the defense and the power play, with input from Campbell. It is expected that Campbell’s focus will be primarily on Seattle’s offense.