Coach Jess grew up in Howard County, starting her lacrosse career with HCLax. Throughout middle and high school, she played HoCo club lacrosse, serving as a team captain, and she went on to play for Glenelg High School. Coach Jess graduated from University of Maryland with her B.S. in Public Health Science in December 2024, and is now coaching during her gap year before starting her Physician Assistant Program.