Dawn Braid Hired by Coyotes, Believed to Be 1st Full-Time Female Coach in NHL

The Arizona Coyotes reportedly made history on Wednesday when they announced a slew of coaching hires. 

According to the Associated Press (via Yahoo Sports), the club added Dawn Braid as the franchise's new skating coach, and she "is believed to be the first full-time female coach in NHL history."

The team's official release noted that Braid is joining the Coyotes on a full-time basis after they employed her part time in 2015. Braid released a statement regarding the news, via Dave Vest of the Coyotes' official site:

Braid previously worked as a skating consultant for several clubs, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks. 

According to the release, Braid also "spent seven years with the Athletes Training Center as its director of skating development where she instructed a variety of skaters, including New York Islanders center John Tavares."

The Pacific Standard (h/t Sports Illustrated) noted that NHL teams and players have hired several women, such as Cathy Andrade, Laura Stamm and Barb Underhill, over the years as part-time skating consultants. 

Braid will join San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, Sacramento Kings assistant Nancy Lieberman and Buffalo Bills quality control-special teams coach Kathryn Smith among notable full-time coaches in men's major professional sports leagues. 

In December 2015, the Seattle Mariners hired Amanda Hopkins in a move that was believed to make her the first full-time female scout in Major League Baseball since the 1950s, according to Baseball America (via MLB.com).