Former ice hockey player Brianna Decker found solace in a transition to coaching after the unexpected end of her playing career due to an injury at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. After six years as an assistant in development with USA Hockey and at Shattuck-St. Mary’s preparatory school in Minnesota, Decker makes the jump to the professional arena. The 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class member joins head coach Ken Klee’s coaching staff with PWHL champion Minnesota Frost, the team announced on Monday.
Decker, 34, joins the Frost after three seasons as an associate coach at Shattuck, and four seasons with the U.S. Under-18 team, where she coached rising stars like Caroline Harvey, Haley Winn, Casey O’Brien, and Hannah Bilka. To facilitate her transition to the PWHL, Decker already knows Frost, replacing Mira Jalosuo, who was hired to coach at St. Cloud State. Decker reunites with former American teammates, such as captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, forward Kelly Pannek, and defender Lee Stecklein. Previously, Decker played under Klee, who led the U.S. national team to gold medal victories at the 2015 and 2016 world championships. In addition, she has ties to Frost’s assistant coach, Chris Johnson, whose father, Mark, coached Decker at Wisconsin.My passion for hockey hasn’t changed since I retired.
Brianna Decker
Klee anticipates Decker will focus in part on the development of the younger players on the Frost, while noting that their veterans were excited to learn of his hiring. Decker, originally from Wisconsin, is a three-time Olympian and six-time gold medalist at the world championships. Her career essentially ended after breaking her leg and tearing ligaments in her ankle in the opening match of the U.S. Olympic Games against Finland in 2022. Upon retiring a year later, Decker’s 68 points at the world championships ranked third at the time among American players. She was twice MVP of the National Women’s Hockey League, voted the best college hockey player in 2012, and won a national title at Wisconsin a year earlier. When she began her coaching career with the U.S. Under-18 team in 2019, Decker didn’t realize how valuable the experience would become sooner than expected.He has a remarkable history of success, leadership, and vision both on and off the ice that will make him a great asset to our team.
Ken Klee
Decker’s hiring coincides with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in a class that also includes Montreal Victoire general manager Danièle Sauvageau, the first woman included in the builder category. Decker smiled when asked if being a Hall of Famer could help convey her message as a coach.Training and playing at the same time benefited me as a coach. It has allowed me to make the transition a little easier. I didn’t expect my playing career to end like this… But once I got on the ice, being able to impact the players was really rewarding.
Brianna Decker
I guess it helps. I guess it could also add more pressure, right? So I really have to know what I’m talking about.
Brianna Decker
The only thing I learned is that it didn’t matter if it was a dad in jeans training you or a Hall of Famer. You have to respect them, as you can always learn something from them. And that’s what I hope to do, help these girls learn some things they don’t know.
Brianna Decker
