Jessa Hansen Parker - Gymnastics Coach - University of Washington Athletics

Jessa Hansen Parker

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
jchansen@uw.edu

The Jessa Hansen Parker era continues on Montlake as the Washington gymnastics head coach has agreed to a five-year contract exension that will kepp her with the GymDawgs through the 2031 season.

Hansen has entered her third season at Washington after being named the ninth head coach in the program's history, as announced by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun on July 2, 2024.

"Coach Hansen Parker has done exceptional work leading our gymnastics program," said Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "Over the past two seasons, we have watched her not only build a foundation but also lead us back to the NCAA Tournament. We are excited for the future of UW Gymnastics under her leadership."

Since arriving at Washington, Hansen Parker has made an immediate impact on the program, helping elevate the GymDawgs across competition, academics, and fan engagement.

In her first season, Hansen Parker led four GymDawgs to the NCAA Championships, with Mary McDonough, Taylor Russon, Emily Innes, and Chelsea Hallinan representing Washington as individual qualifiers.

In year two, Hansen Parker guided Washington back to the postseason as a team, leading the GymDawgs to the program's 41st NCAA Regional appearance and advancing to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Washington opened postseason competition with an upset victory over No. 29 San José State in the first round.

The GymDawgs also recorded their most conference wins in five years during the 2026 season and posted a 3.78 team GPA, the program's highest since 2020. Washington recorded its highest team score under Hansen Parker with a 196.575 at the Cal Quad in March.

Fan support also reached new heights in 2026. Washington ranked second in the Big Ten attendance, behind UCLA, while welcoming 20,886 fans throughout the season. The year was highlighted by the first sellout in program history on Jan 3, 2026.

"It is truly an honor and a privilege to lead these women, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue at a place as special as the University of Washington," said Hansen Parker. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Pat Chun and Senior Associate Athletic Director Kiley Strong for their trust, belief, and continued support. I'm incredibly proud to represent this program, this university, and the Husky community. I'm excited about what lies ahead and the continued growth of our team as we pursue excellence in everything we do, both in competition and in life. Go Dawgs!"

A veteran coach with more than a decade of experience, Hansen Parker came to Seattle following four seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Iowa. During her time with the Hawkeyes, she played a pivotal role in Iowa capturing its first Big Ten Championship in 2021, highlighted by a perfect 8-0 conference record and a No. 17 national ranking.

The following year, Hansen Parker helped guide the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time under the current format after finishing third in the Big Ten standings, while also mentoring Adeline Kenlin to a runner-up finish on balance beam at the NCAA National Championships.
After Iowa made its 23rd-straight NCAA Regional appearance and earned another third-place Big Ten finish in 2023, Hansen Parker helped send four Hawkeyes to the 2024 NCAA Regional Championships.

Over her four seasons at Iowa, the Hawkeyes made four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. Hansen Parker coached six All-Americans and 13 All-Big Ten honorees and helped Kenlin become the fourth gymnast in program history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Before returning to Iowa City, Hansen Parker spent four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UC Davis from 2016-20. Leading the Aggies on balance beam, Hansen Parker’s unit posted a 49.075 national qualifying score in 2019 to rank 23rd nationally. She was named the 2019 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Assistant Coach of the Year.

"Coach Hansen Parker has a proven track record of success and after a thorough national search it was clear she is the right person to guide UW gymnastics," Strong said. "Not only will her experience both as a gymnast and coach at Iowa prove beyond valuable in our transition into one of the nation's great gymnastics conferences in the Big Ten, but her West Coast connections at both Cal and UC Davis provide her with the unique ability to lead our program into this exciting next chapter."

During her four seasons, UC Davis saw seven student-athletes earn individual bids to NCAA Regionals. Additionally, Hansen Parker and the Aggies signed the No. 15 national recruiting class per College Gym News.

Before her time at Davis, Hansen Parker served as an assistant coach for three seasons at Cal from 2013-16, guiding the Golden Bears to final rankings of 16^th, 18^th and seventh respectively.

Cal earned an NCAA Regional bid in all three seasons with Hansen Parker on staff, culminating in an NCAA National Championship berth in 2016, the first for the Golden Bears in 24 years and the second in program-history.

Prior to stepping into the coaching profession, Hansen Parker was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 2008-12, a career that produced two All-Big Ten selections, three Academic All-Big Ten honors and two Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards. She was also a NACGC Scholastic All-American from 2010-12, a Dean's List honoree from 2009-11, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and was a part Iowa's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2009-12.

In her pre-collegiate career, Hansen Parker was a teammate with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson at Chow's Gymnastics, the same club that later produced Team USA members Gabby Douglas and Rachel Gowey.

Hansen Parker graduated from the University of Iowa in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and minors in studio art and sport studies. She and her husband, Bryan, were married in 2020.