The University of Minnesota Duluth has promoted Brette Jensen to become its next Director of Track and Field and Cross Country after Jensen spent the last five and a half years as the head men's and women's cross country coach and assistant men's and women's track & field coach.

"Brette is highly respected by colleagues in the department of athletics, across campus, and throughout the NSIC," said UMD Director of Athletics Forrest Karr. "She is invested in the community, has developed strong relationships, and understands the commitment necessary for academic and athletic success. Brette's consistent supportive energy has helped create an incredibly positive team culture for Bulldog student-athletes."

Under Jensen's tenure, the Bulldogs' women's team qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship and finished 20th in the NCAA that season, ranking as high as 12th in the USTFCCCA national poll that year. In the past two cross country seasons, two individual athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships with Jensen leading the way – Franny Seidel in 2024 and Shaelyn Hostager this past season (2025). Jensen also led the men's cross country team to a runner-up finish at the NSIC Conference Championships in 2023 and a third place finish in 2024.

On the track, Jensen coached Caliee Peterson to a national runner-up finish in the women's indoor mile, as well as another All-American honor (fourth) in the outdoor 1500m during the 2022-23 season. Peterson also claimed the NSIC titles in both events that year. Jensen also guided Isabelle Brezinka to All-American status (eighth) in the women's 800m outdoors in 2022, and Savannah Schley to a NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship appearance in 2025 in the same event.

Other NSIC Conference Champions coached by Jensen include Hostager in the women's outdoor 5,000 and 10,000m, and Jack Van Kempen in the men's indoor 5000m, both during the 2024-25 season. In all, Jensen has coached six conference champions from 2022-2026.

UMD has also thrived under Jensen in the classroom – the women's cross country team earned the highest GPA among women's teams in the UMD department of athletics and the men's cross country team earned the highest GPA of the men's teams. In addition, UMD has had two NSIC's Elite 18 awards, two recipients of the NSIC's Outstanding Senior Award and one recipient of the NSIC's prestigious Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence. The award is presented to the NSIC's top female student athlete, and was given just this spring to UMD senior Elizabeth VanLoon.

"I am incredibly grateful to Athletic Director Forrest Karr and the University of Minnesota Duluth for the opportunity to lead our track and field and cross country programs," said Jensen. "UMD is a special place with outstanding students, dedicated coaches and staff, and a supportive community that is committed to excellence. I am proud of what our teams have accomplished both competitively and academically, and I am looking forward to continuing to elevate a strong culture that develops well-rounded student-athletes." 

Jensen served as assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach/coordinator of operations at NCAA Division I Drake University prior to joining the Bulldog coaching staff in December of 2021. She assisted with the development of student-athletes in cross country and track and field as well supported team travel and logistics while in Des Moines. Jensen helped coach the 2021 Drake University men's cross country team to a Missouri Valley Conference Championship, and helped guide two NCAA Division I All-Americans in the mile and 1500m. While at Drake, Jensen served as one of the assistant directors for the 2021 Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa featuring many of the top high school, college, and professional athletes in track and field. 

Prior to Drake, Jensen was a volunteer assistant cross country and track and field coach at her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa, while also competing post-collegiately. While a student-athlete at NCAA Division I Northern Iowa, she was a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Champion and recorded personal bests of 2:04 in the 800m and 4:22 in the 1,500m. Jensen also helped lead the Panthers to the MVC cross country title in 2016. She was the epitome of a student-athlete and the first Panther to earn the MVC's prestigious Elite 17 award, given to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average at an MVC conference championship.

A native of Dyersville, Iowa, Jensen graduated from Western Dubuque High School and finished her prep career with four different school records (4X800, distance medley, 4X400 and the 800 meters).

Jensen's new role will begin July 1 pending a successful background check.