CALGARY – Jessica Zelinka has been hired as the head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos Track & Field and Cross Country teams, effective Aug. 16, 2021, Athletic Director Ben Matchett announced Wednesday.

Zelinka is no stranger to the UCalgary community, having graduated from the university in 2007 after competing on the Dinos track and field team for four seasons. A Canada West Hall-of-Famer, she became one of the most decorated student-athletes in Dinos history and later represented Canada at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. Since retiring from high-performance competition in 2016, Zelinka has become an athletics coach and performance consultant.

"This is an honour and an exciting challenge for me, as an alumna of Dinos Track & Field and the U SPORTS system, to return to the track as the head coach," said Zelinka. "I want to foster a positive team culture for our UCalgary student-athletes and coaches. I believe together we have a great opportunity to enhance standards for the program and to demonstrate to potential recruits that we can attract and develop some of the best student-athletes in the country."

Zelinka began her international career on the track in 2000, two years before she enrolled at UCalgary and competed on the varsity circuit, under the training of former Dinos track and field head coach Les Gramantik. A specialist in combined events, she was a four-time Canada West Athlete of the Year, based on her outstanding performances at conference championships, and helped the Dinos win Canada West titles in 2005 and 2007. At U SPORTS championships, she picked up medals from 17 podium finishes in her collegiate career and was named Female Track Athlete of the year in 2004 and top female field athlete in 2007. The 2007 season was a banner year for Zelinka and the Dinos women's track and field team as they won the national championship, while Zelinka later earned the BLG Award as the top female athlete in U SPORTS.

A native of London, Ont., Zelinka's top performances internationally came in the heptathlon and the individual 100-metre hurdles. She captured her first international medal, winning the heptathlon, at the 2007 Pan American Games. The following year, she made her Olympic debut and finished fourth in the heptathlon at Beijing 2008, breaking a Canadian record. After returning from having a baby in 2009, Zelinka broke her Canadian record in the heptathlon and won the 100-metre hurdles at the 2012 Canadian Trials to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics. At those Games, she placed fifth overall in the heptathlon and had an impressive sixth-place finish in 100-metre hurdles. Zelinka was also a two-time silver medallist in the heptathlon at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.

"Jessica is one of the finest athletes to ever wear Dinos colours, and we are excited to welcome her back to lead our track and field and cross country program," said Matchett. "Her experience as a student-athlete and at the highest levels of international competition in the combined events give her a unique perspective, and our student-athletes will benefit from that expertise. She's a competitor and a leader, and we look forward to working with her as she takes on this next challenge in her coaching career."

Zelinka has served in coaching capacities for clubs and programs since retiring in 2016. As a contract coach with Athletics Alberta, she has promoted track and field programs and inspired participation in local and rural schools. At the club level, Zelinka's roles include head coach of the junior development program and hurdles and horizontal jump event coach. Zelinka has also delivered track camps and clinics, led dryland training, and offered mentorship for individuals of all ages and sports organizations. 

Zelinka received a Bachelor of Arts in communication and culture from UCalgary in 2007 and a Master of Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen's University in 2018. In addition to several honours from Athletics Canada, Zelinka was named one of Global Calgary's Woman of Vision in 2009, celebrating the accomplishments of outstanding women in the city, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, which recognizes significant contributions by Canadians in their communities or abroad.

The Dinos cross country teams return to competition this fall where the men's program will look for their fourth consecutive Canada West title and a third national championship in a row. In 2022, the track and field teams will get back into action, with the men's team as defending Canada West champions.

-UC-