Jeff Giesen stepped onto the campus of Minnesota State in the summer of 2015, taking on the role of associate head coach for the women's hockey program. A native of Blaine, Minnesota, Giesen brought with him more than two decades of coaching experience, having previously led the St. Cloud State Huskies and served as an assistant at Saint John's University.
Since his arrival, the Mavericks have undergone a remarkable turnaround. The team has compiled 116 victories under Giesen’s guidance, highlighted by a program‑record 17 wins during the 2025‑26 season. Over the last five years the squad has averaged nearly 15 wins per campaign, a stark contrast to the mere eight wins recorded in the five seasons before his hiring.
The 2025‑26 schedule featured a marquee home‑and‑home series against second‑ranked Minnesota. Minnesota State opened with a 3‑1 victory at Ridder Arena before returning home to secure a 4‑1 win, sweeping the Golden Gophers in a display of depth and defensive poise.
Building on that momentum, the Mavericks faced ninth‑ranked Minnesota Duluth in a best‑of‑three battle for the WCHA Playoffs. After dropping the first game, the team rallied to win the next two, advancing to the postseason round for the second time in program history.
Freshman forward Mercury Bischoff emerged as a standout, earning a spot on the WCHA All‑Rookie team after posting 19 goals and ten assists. Her performance made her a finalist for the conference’s Rookie of the Year award, underscoring the impact of Giesen’s player development.
A Coaching Journey Spanning Two Decades
Giesen’s coaching pedigree stretches back to the early 1990s, when he began as an assistant at Saint John's University. There he helped the program capture MIAC titles in 1996, 1997 and 2003, and guided the team to NCAA Division III tournament appearances in four of those seasons, including a third‑place finish in 1997.
At St. Cloud State, he served as head coach for eight seasons, steering the Huskies to a program‑best winning percentage of .539 in 2007‑08 and a third‑place finish in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association during 2009‑10. Internationally, Giesen contributed to USA Hockey as an assistant with the U.S. Women’s National Under‑18 Team, winning gold at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship in Germany, and later as a scout for the senior national team that captured silver at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark.
Off the ice, Giesen and his wife Karla make their home in North Mankato, Minnesota, where they raise two daughters, Delaney and Maleah. Delaney, a junior at Nichols College in Massachusetts, balances women’s hockey and golf, while Maleah prepares to enter her senior year at Mankato West.