NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Jessica Mueller, the interim head coach of the Carleton College women's soccer program since September 2020, has been named the full-time head coach moving forward as announced by athletic director Gerald Young.
 
"I love Carleton, and I couldn't be more grateful and excited for this opportunity," said Mueller. "I've worked with such incredible people both recently and in my previous roles at the college - all of whom have supported and influenced me along the way.
 
"I couldn't be more excited to join an athletic department that prepares its student athletes to compete at their highest level both on and off the field. The women's soccer team is made up of strong, smart, incredibly hard working, and talented young women who absolutely love the game and love playing with each other. It doesn't get any better than that!
 
"Thank you to Gerald Young, (Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator) Heidi Jaynes, and Dean Hofmeister for the opportunity to coach, teach, and be part of this truly special Carleton community."
                                                        
Mueller guided the program throughout the 2020-21 academic year, a period that saw the Knights conduct team practices but not participate in intercollegiate competition due to the pandemic. She then had her time as interim head coach extended through the fall 2021 season, a campaign that saw the Knights earn a regional ranking from the United Soccer Coaches. Carleton went 7-6-3 this fall, posting a winning percentage of .500 or better for the 12^th time in the last 15 seasons.
 
This is Mueller's third stint with the women's soccer program at Carleton, having previously served as an assistant coach for the team from 2009-11 and again from 2013-16. She was brought back as the Knights' interim head coach when Jocelyn Keller went on family leave.
 
Before returning to Carleton this most recent time, Mueller was the head coach of the varsity girls soccer program at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School from 2016-20, and during those four seasons, she coached 10 players who earned scholarships to play at the NCAA D-I and D-II levels in addition to several D-III players.
 
In 2018, Mueller was voted Minnesota State High School League's Section 2AA Coach of the Year. That same year she began coaching the U17 girls squad at Tonka Fusion Elite, a nationally ranked Premier I club team that won the Minnesota State Cup championship in 2019 and qualified for US Club Nationals for the 2019 & 2020 seasons. Prior to that role, she was technical director and team coach for the Eden Prairie Soccer Club from 2011-18 and spent the 2012 season on the coaching staff at St. Paul (Minn.) Academy. She possesses both a USC/NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and an USSF National "C" Coaching License.
 
Mueller earned a bachelor's degree in English from Kalamazoo (Mich.) College where she was an all-conference soccer player and team captain. She also holds a master's degree with concentrations in Sports Psychology/Sociology and Transformative Language Arts from Goddard College. She is participating in the Master of Science in Coaching and Athletic Administration program at Concordia University, St. Paul.
 
Mueller lives in Plymouth, Minn., with her husband, Nathan, and their two daughters.