COLCHESTER, Vt. - Annika Martell has been hired as the new Saint Michael's College Nordic skiing head coach, Associate Director of Athletics Annie Martin '19 announced on Thursday. Martell's tenure begins on July 14.
 
Former 13-year head coach Molly Peters relinquishes the role but continues to guide the men's and women's cross country teams and fledgling men's and women's outdoor track squads, which begin competition next spring.
 
No stranger to the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) circuit, Martell served as assistant coach at league counterpart Williams College for the past four seasons. She played an integral role in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, strength & conditioning, practice plans, race day coaching, wax and ski preparation, technique review, and social media management. Martell helped coach 2025 graduate Keelan Durham to three NCAA Championship appearances and a pair of EISA All-East accolades.
 
"I'm honored to step into the head coaching role at Saint Michael's," said Martell. "This team has built impressive momentum over the past several years, and I'm excited for the opportunity to build on that foundation. I'm deeply grateful to everyone I've worked with throughout my career because their support has shaped my coaching philosophy and helped me grow as a leader. I'd also like to thank the search committee for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. I'm looking forward to building strong relationships with the student-athletes, staff, and broader college community."
 
Martell carries a wealth of additional experience into her new position. In 2022 and 2023, she served as a Trail to Gold fellow with the U.S. Ski Team, providing in-race coaching, staff and athlete support, waxing and ski testing, and video review during the European World Cup. In summer 2022, Martell was an assistant coach with the professional Stratton Mountain School T2 Team (Vt.). Through the U.S. Biathlon Women's Coaching Initiative, Martell traveled to the 2024 IBU Cup and World Cup, where she provided coaching and waxing support.
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Annika Martell to Saint Michael's as our new Nordic skiing head coach," said Martin. "Annika brings a diverse background and extensive experience to our program. Her dedication to the sport is evident through her previous roles, including her recent work with the U.S. Ski Team and her successful coaching stints with other club programs. Her leadership, combined with our growing alumni support and new facilities like the Kelley Ski Center, will undoubtedly propel Saint Michael's Nordic skiing to new heights."
 
Martell was head coach of the Berkshire Trails Nordic Ski Club's (Mass.) summer training group in 2022 and an assistant coach with the U.S. Ski Team staff at the 2023 International Junior Camp. Directly out of college, Martell coached in 2020 and 2021 with the Ford K. Sayre Memorial Ski Council (N.H.), assisting the Junior Nordic Team (U16-U20) and heading the U14/U16 squad. She was a coaching intern with the U.S. Biathlon Association in 2020 and aided Team New England as a wax tech at Cross Country Junior National Championships in 2023 and 2025.
 
Martell arrives at Saint Michael's with the Nordic program on the rise. Declan Hutchinson '25 and returning juniors Oliver Miatke (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) and Henrik Wist (Trondheim, Norway/Heimdal VGS) all qualified for the NCAA Championship since 2024, while rising junior Zoe Devine (Ely, Minn./Memorial) and rising sophomore Daniel McCollor (Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata) were both on the cusp of NCAA qualifications this past winter. Alumni support is also at an all-time high, as Mike Spain '79 funded a waxing trailer for the Nordic skiing program in winter 2024 and Tom Kelley '69 led the charge to fund the renovation of Senior Hall into the one-of-its-kind Kelley Ski Center, which opened last fall, for the Alpine and Nordic programs.
 
An Eagan, Minn., native, Martell was a four-year Nordic skier at EISA member Colby College, serving as a team captain as a junior and senior, when she was also Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president. As a senior, she earned Colby's Pamela Hoyt-Sanborn '87 Award, which honors a female student-athlete for inspirational leadership. Martell completed bachelor's degrees in economics and environmental science in 2020 and is pursuing a master's degree in sport business from Drexel University, with anticipated completion this summer.