Courtney Kessel

Biography

Courtney Kessel has been named the sixth head coach of women’s ice hockey at Princeton University as announced by Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack ‘00. Kessel, who spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton from 2019-23, most recently was behind the bench in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) as head coach of the Boston Fleet. “It is an exciting moment for Princeton Women’s Ice Hockey with the return of Courtney Kessel in her new role as head coach,” said Mack. “She is a bright coaching mind with head coaching experience and success at the highest levels of professional and international hockey. She also has a wealth of knowledge about Princeton and our hockey program and knows first-hand what it requires to recruit, develop and mentor exceptional student-athletes at our University. I can’t wait to welcome Courtney, Blake and their family back to campus and support them as they begin this next chapter for Princeton Women’s Ice Hockey.” Kessel brings years of experience as a coach and leader at the collegiate, international and professional levels to Hobey Baker Rink. In addition to her time as head coach with the Fleet, she spent the 2018-19 season as head coach of the Toronto Furies in the CWHL. The first head coach in Boston Fleet history, Kessel guided the Fleet to the Walter Cup Finals in 2024. She has also been part of the coaching staff for three gold-medal winning teams with Hockey Canada, including a stint as assistant coach with the S