Jessica Pelzel was hired in August, 2022 as the Director of Athletics and Health & Wellness Center at Anoka-Ramsey.

“We are very pleased to have Jess take on this important leadership role within Athletics and the Health and Wellness Center” said Steve Crittenden, Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.  “She brings 25 years of collegiate coaching and teaching experience.  Her passion, energy, and knowledge will be a great asset to our student-athletes, coaches, college, and community partners.”

Jess will oversee all operations of Golden Ram Athletics as well as serving as the primary supervisor of the Health and Wellness Center on the Rapids campus.

Jess previously served as the head basketball coach for the Anoka-Ramsey Women's Basketball team during the 2021-2022 season after being the lead assistant for six years, and taught classes in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) department.

A native of southwestern Minnesota, Jess played basketball at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall for four years while earning a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science- Kinesiology. She went on to earn a Master’s degree at St Cloud State University in Sport Studies and was a graduate assistant coach for the women's basketball team. After completing her coursework, she coached at the College of St Benedict for three seasons while working full time as a HPER Instructor at St. Cloud State.

In 2006 she was named the Head Women’s Basketball coach and Physical Education Instructor at Madison College in Madison, WI. While at Madison College, Jessica coached in three national tournaments placing 2nd in 2009 and winning the NJCAA National Championship in 2010. In her 10-year coaching career at Madison she had a record of 211-93. She has also been named WJCAA Coach of the Year twice and NJCAA Region XIII/IV Coach of the Year three times and NJCAA National Coach of the Year once.

In May 2019, Jess completed a second master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Florida, and subsequently served as the interim Athletic Coordinator at Anoka-Ramsey for one semester.