Minnetonka Schools has named Kelsey Hans as its new head girls varsity soccer coach. Hans replaces Jeff Hopkins who led the team for 13 seasons and who stepped down in November for health and family reasons. Hans will begin her new role immediately.
Hans brings more than 12 years of experience as a soccer coach and sports program director. For the past two years, she has served as head girls varsity coach at Blake School, overseeing the varsity, JV and middle school soccer programs. There, she led her team to a section championship and a third place state finish. She also currently serves as the Girls' Director of Coaching for Minneapolis United Soccer Club.
"Kelsey is an impressive, motivating leader who will be an inspiring and encouraging mentor for our girls' soccer team," Ted Schultz, Activities and Athletics Director, said. "She brings rich experience of soccer knowledge and coaching experience, and she is tremendous at connecting and building relationships with her teams all while being a fierce competitor. I believe her passion for excellence, as well as her collaborative and supportive approach to coaching, will make her an outstanding fit here at MHS."
Hans has worked with Tonka United, Minnesota Thunder Academy and spent six seasons as Edina High School's assistant girls' varsity soccer coach. She has also held coaching positions with the Minnesota Olympic Development Program, and with soccer programs in California and in South Africa. She has also held roles as a park education specialist and biological science technician for Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and a wildlife biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"I am honored and excited for the opportunity to lead the Skippers program," said Hans of her new role. "Minnetonka has a strong history of highly competitive soccer, and I look forward to continuing that legacy of success, in addition to my commitment towards the overall development of our student-athletes. I can't wait to meet everyone and get started!"
Hans is an Athena Award Committee member and its treasurer, is an NU for Life (Northwestern University Athletics) mentor, and is a board member of SheWinS (a non-profit that offers athletic opportunities to females in rural South Africa). She has a BA in history from Northwestern University and a MS in natural resources and environment from University of Michigan. She holds a Northwestern University record for goals in a season and career. In 2015, she was inducted into the Lakeville High School Hall of Fame. Hans won the Minnesota Ms. Soccer Award and Metro player of the year in 2003 while leading Lakeville High School to multiple state tournament berths. Hans resides in Minneapolis with her two daughters, Sydney (5) and Emerson (2).
CONTACT: JacQueline Getty, Executive Director of Communications
(cell) 612-297-8898 | jacqui.getty@minnetonkaschools.org