PWHL Las Vegas appointed Kim Weiss as head coach ahead of the expansion team's inaugural 2026-27 Professional Women's Hockey League season, the club announced Monday.
The move gives Las Vegas its first head coach as the PWHL expands toward a 12-team league. ESPN/AP reported that Weiss is 37, and the official PWHL announcement said the team will debut at T-Mobile Arena in the fall.
Weiss Moves From Colorado Eagles To PWHL Las Vegas
Weiss joins PWHL Las Vegas after two seasons with the Colorado Eagles, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The PWHL said she became the second woman in AHL/NHL history to serve as a full-time assistant coach.
Her Colorado stint began as a video assistant before a promotion to assistant coach in 2026. During her time with the Eagles, the club won a Pacific Division title in 2025 and made two Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
The Eagles also reached the Western Conference Finals in 2026 before losing a seven-game series to the Chicago Wolves. That recent run gives the Las Vegas appointment more weight than a standard expansion staffing announcement.
DiDia Reunites With A Former Trinity Teammate
PWHL Las Vegas general manager Dominique DiDia and Weiss were teammates at Trinity College, according to the official announcement. DiDia framed the hire around player development, team culture and leadership, while the club highlighted Weiss's work across college, junior and professional hockey.
Before Colorado, Weiss worked with Trinity College men's hockey during the 2023-24 season. The PWHL said she became the first woman to work as an assistant coach in NCAA Division III men's hockey, and Trinity went 25-4-1, won the NESCAC title and reached the national championship game that season.
Weiss also worked with the Maryland Black Bears in the North American Hockey League, helping the club win its first NAHL East Division Championship in 2023. Her background also includes Washington Pride, USA Hockey player development and coaching education work, and time with the U.S. Women's National Team.
Las Vegas Builds Toward Its First Season
PWHL Las Vegas was announced as an expansion team on May 13, and the league said it will be one of 12 PWHL teams. ESPN/AP reported that the PWHL added four franchises for next season.
The timing also puts the hire in the middle of the league's roster-building calendar. ESPN/AP noted that the announcement came two days before the PWHL draft in Detroit, giving Las Vegas a head coach in place before a major personnel step.
For a new club, the appointment sets the practical foundation: a head coach, a general manager, an arena plan and the beginning of a roster. The next test is how quickly PWHL Las Vegas turns those pieces into an actual team for its first season.