Jennifer Bubel
Female coaches
BREAKING the glass ceiling
In 2012, there was not a single female coach within the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL. In 10 years, some strides have been made.
As recently as 2016 though, 57% of women’s teams were coached by men, while only 3% of men’s teams were coached by women.
Meet some of the trailblazing women who have found their place as coaches despite the societal barriers and prejudices.
Becky Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in the NBA in 2014, working alongside Gregg Poppovich for the San Antonio Spurs.
Becky Hammon
NBA - San Antonio Spurs
Welter became the first female NFL coach in 2015, as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and preseason with the Arizona Cardinals.
Jennifer Welter
NFL - Arizona Cardinals
Jennifer King became the first black female assistant coach in the NFL in 2021 after being promoted from intern with the Washington Commanders.
Jennifer King
NFL - Washington Commanders
Sowers made double history as the first female to ever coach a Super Bowl (as offensive assistant coach) and the first ever openly gay NFL coach.
Katie Sowers
NFL - San Francisco 49ers
Dawn Braid became the first full-time female coach in the NHL in 2016, as a skating coach for the Arizona Coyotes.
Dawn Braid
NHL - Arizona Coyotes
Dawn Braid became the first full-time female coach in the NHL in 2016, as a skating coach for the Arizona Coyotes.
Dawn Braid became the first full-time female coach in the NHL in 2016, as a skating coach for the Arizona Coyotes.
Kim Wyant is the first woman to lead a men's soccer team to a NCAA tournament and one of very few female coaches in NCAA men's teams.
Kim Wyant
NCAA - NYU Men's Soccer
Kim Wyant is the first woman to lead a men's soccer team to a NCAA tournament and one of very few female coaches in NCAA men's teams.
Kim Wyant is the first woman to lead a men's soccer team to a NCAA tournament and one of very few female coaches in NCAA men's teams.
Emily Zaler, the Denver Broncos' strength and conditioning coach, became the first female coach in Broncos' history in 2020.
Emily Zaler
NFL - Denver Broncos
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