Women Who Have Broken Barriers in Coaching

In recent years, women have been changing the landscape of coaching in male professional sports. Whether it be in the dugout or on the sidelines, these coaches have garnered respect and opened doors for others. Women who have broken barriers in coaching make great keynote speakers for a variety of business conferences, charity galas and other events. They are able to motivate audiences with their stories on how they broke the mold in their field.

Alyssa Nakken

First Female Coach in MLB History Who is Now With the Cleveland Guardians

Alyssa Nakken has made history with the San Francisco Giants as the first full-time female coach in Major League Baseball history. Nakken had previously joined the organization as a baseball operation

Justine Siegal

First Female MLB Coach for the Oakland A's

Justine Siegal made MLB history, as the Oakland Athletics announced she would serve as a guest instructor for their Instructional League club, making her the first woman to coach in big league history

Rachel Balkovec

MIami Marlins Farm Director and Trailblazing Baseball Coach

Rachel Balkovec has made baseball history as the first woman to be a full-time hitting coach and manager in the professional ranks. Balkovec was hired in 2019 by the New York Yankees to coach in their

Jen Welter

First Female Coach in NFL History

Jen Welter is the first known female coach in the NFL. Welter joined the Arizona Cardinals as a coaching intern for the 2015 training camp and preseason. She was also the first female coach in any f

Becky Hammon

WNBA Champion Head Coach of the Las Vegas Aces, Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs

Becky Hammon is a pioneer for all women in sports. Hammon was the first female full-time professional assistant coach for any men’s major professional sports team. She was hired by Greg Popovich to jo

Nancy Lieberman

Basketball Hall of Famer

Nancy Lieberman is a former professional basketball player and coach in the WNBA. Her career began at a young age when she was named to the USA Basketball roster when she was just 17 years old. She co

Katie Sowers

First Openly LGBT NFL Coach

Katie Sowers first broke through the glass ceiling by becoming just the second woman hired to be a full-time NFL coach. She was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive assistant in 2017. Sow

Jennifer King

First Full-Time African American Female Coach in the NFL

Jennifer King is a current offensive assistant coach for the Chicago Bears who made history in 2020 by being the first African-American female hired as a full-time coach in the NFL. The Washington Red

Jenny Boucek

Assistant Coach for the Indiana Pacers

Assistant basketball coach for the Indiana Pacers, Jenny Boucek was born December 20, 1973 and is a former basketball player, and former head coach of the Seattle Storm. She was hired by the team on J

Teresa Weatherspoon

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee and Former WNBA Player and Coach

Teresa Weatherspoon is regarded as one of the greatest female basketball players of all-time. Her tremendous career accomplishments led to election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in

Kara Lawson

Duke Women's Basketball Coach and Former WNBA Star

Kara Lawson joined the WNBA as a member of the Sacramento Monarchs in 2003. Prior to that she starred at the University of Tennessee, where she earned the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best se

Lindsay Gottlieb

Women's Basketball Coach at USC

Lindsay Gottlieb is the head women's basketball coach at USC. Prior to joining the Trojans, she became part of a group of pioneering female coaches in the NBA. Gottlieb accepted a position as an assis

Kathryn Smith

First Full-Time Female Coach in NFL History

Kathryn Smith was the first full-time female assistant coach in NFL history. Following the 2015 season, Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan hired her as a special teams quality control coach. Smith wo

Maral Javadifar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Assistant Coach

Maral Javadifar is a groundbreaking assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Javadifar was hired along with Lori Locust, making Tampa Bay the first NFL team to have two women on the coaching staf

Lori Locust

First Female Assistant Coach to Win a Super Bowl

Lori Locust was a groundbreaking assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Locust was hired along with Maral Javadifar, making Tampa Bay the first NFL team to have two women on the coaching staff

Heather Marini

First Female Position Coach in Division 1 History

Heather Marini is the current quarterbacks coach at Brown University and she made history when the Bears hired her to the role in 2020. She became the first female position coach in Division 1 history

Emily Zaler

First Female Coach in Denver Broncos History

Emily Zaler is a member of the Denver Broncos coaching staff and the first female coach in team history. Zaler began with the Broncos as an intern in 2020 and was retained on staff for the regular sea

Julie Croteau

The First Woman to Play and Coach NCAA Baseball

Julie Croteau is one of the most significant female pioneers in baseball history. Croteau first garnered headlines for suing her high school in an attempt to be allowed to play on the boys baseball te

Bianca Smith

First Black Female Coach in Professional Baseball

Bianca Smith is a trailblazer in professional baseball as the first black female coach hired. The Boston Red Sox brought her on board as a minor league coach working with position players out of their

Theresa Feaster

First Female Assistant for a USA Men's Hockey Team

Theresa Feaster made history by becoming a video coach for USA Hockey's U20 men's national team. Feaster is also one of two women that work full-time in Division 1 men's hockey. She is the Director of

Callie Brownson

First Woman Assistant Coach of a Division 1 Football Team

Callie Brownson is the current senior director of high performance national team operations for USA Football. Brownson made history previously as the Chief of Staff for the Cleveland Browns and the

Ronnie Gajownik

First Woman to Manage at Minor League Baseball Team at the High-A Level

Ronnie Gajownik is the latest woman blazing a trail through the baseball managerial ranks. In 2023, Gajownik became the first female manager at the High-A level of Minor League Baseball with the Hills

Julianne Sitch

First Woman in NCAA History to Lead a Men's Team to a Championship

Julianne Sitch is the current women's soccer coach at the University of Denver, but she made history for her work leading a men's team to the top. Sitch was the men's soccer coach at the University of

Jessica Campbell

First Female Coach in NHL History

Jessica Campbell is currently an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken and the first female coach hired in NHL history. Campbell had a successful career in hockey leading up to her groundbreaking hir