Jessica O'Connell joined the Dinos coaching staff in the summer of 2022 and will work as an assistant coach with the Calgary cross country and distance programs.
O'Connell is the latest coach to join the Dinos department with Olympic experience. The UCalgary alumna has represented Canada on an impressive 15 national teams across track & field, cross country and road running, highlighted by appearances at World Athletics championships and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
During her days as a student-athlete, O'Connell started things off by helping the Dinos to a Canada West title and runner-up finish nationally at the U SPORTS Cross Country Championships in 2007. On the track, she finished as the national runner-up in both the 1500m and the 4x800m relay as a rookie, while also finishing fourth in the 3000m before earning an opportunity at West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, O'Connell scored an impressive nine times at the Big East Track & Field Championships and claimed four medals – including a conference title in the 3000m. She also qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships four times before graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology.
While competing professionally, she returned to the UCalgary campus to earn her Master of Science degree in Health and Exercise Physiology. The Calgary native is also a CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist with High-Performance designation. She co-owns and operates an online run and strength coaching business and has worked with individuals of all levels, targeting a range of endurance athletes.
"University athletics is a very special few years in a student-athlete's life and was extremely formative for me, both as an athlete and a young adult," O'Connell said. "I look forward to combining my experience as an elite athlete with my schooling in exercise physiology and aim to develop a wholesome team culture of positivity, health and performance."
