Women are making historic strides on the biggest stages of men’s sports. Along with holding coaching positions in baseball, football and basketball, they officiate in the NFL and are in the booth calling games. The time is now for women.
The Buffalo Bills announced yesterday that they hired Kathryn Smith as a quality control assistant, making her the first full time female assistant coach in NFL history. She isn’t the first woman in the league, however. Dr. Jen Welter worked as an assistant coaching intern for the Arizona Cardinals in July 2015, but when preseason ended she was let go. I was excited that a woman is getting an actual shot at working in the league, not just an internship or temporary role. It’s 2016 after all, it’s not the 50’s. But I was utterly shocked by some of the comments I saw on Twitter. Such as:
If somebody can help a team win, who cares if they have a Y chromosome or not? So to make the bros above happy, I decided to recap the modern day pioneers shattering the glass ceiling.
Dr. Justine Siegal made MLB history by becoming the first female coach in the league. The Oakland A’s hired her as a guest instructor for their instructional league from October 4-17, 2015. This isn’t the first time she’s made history either. In 2009, she became the first female coach in professional baseball when she worked for the Brockton Rox as their first base coach. In 2011, she threw spring training batting practice to the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first woman to throw BP to a MLB team.
“Someone said, ‘To be it, you have to see it.’ And now girls can grow up seeing that this is possible, to be a coach, whether that’s local, college and maybe professional. I think the significance is being able to see what you can be. I consider it a huge honor to be a role model to girls in baseball. I love this game.”
Baseball made another stride in 2015 toward equality. On June 16, 2015, Jessica Mendoza became the first female broadcaster in the booth for ESPN’s College World Series coverage. On August 24, she was the first female analyst for a MLB game in the history of ESPN. Six days later she filled in for suspended Curt Schilling for a Cubs-Dodgers game on Sunday Night Baseball. Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta would just so happen to pitch a no-hitter during this game. She joined John Kruk and Dan Shulman calling the 2015 American League Wild Card Game on October 6, becoming the first female to call a MLB postseason game. She not only made history but did a phenomenal job at it. ESPN announced this month that she will join Aaron Boone and Dan Shulman as a regular fixture in 2016.
“It’s just crazy when I look back, and literally less than six months ago I had no idea what was going to happen after the Monday night games.”
In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant coach. The former WNBA star became the first woman on an NBA staff since Lisa Boyer, who was a volunteer assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001-2002. Hammon helped bring the Spurs to the playoffs in 2015, losing in 7 games to the LA Clippers. The Spurs also tapped her to coach their Summer League team and said team just so happen to win the league.
In November 2009, Nancy Lieberman became the coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League, becoming the first woman to coach a professional men’s basketball team. She later moved to a front office position with the Legends before joining Fox Sports Oklahoma as an analyst for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In July 2015, she was hired by the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach, becoming the second female assistant coach in NBA history.
Sarah Thomas became the first full time female official in the NFL in April 2015. She started officiating Mississippi high school games then moved her way up to college bowl games. She worked NFL preseason games and scrimmages before joining the men in the big leagues.
“The guys don’t think of me as a female. They see me as just another official.”
The Oakland Raiders made Beth Mowins the second woman ever to call an NFL game when she did play by play for a preseason game in 2015. The only other woman to call a game called just one, 30 years ago.
The NFL, MLB and NBA have all taken steps into the 21st century by bringing women on board. Of the 4 major North American leagues, the NHL is the last man standing. Will we see our first woman in hockey in 2016? If the progressive trend of the last 18 months keeps going, I’d say yes. I for one am proud of all these women. You go girls! And if there’s a woman out there that knows the secret to keeping the Yankees bats from going ice cold late in the season, I am more than happy to have you on my team!
So, sorry guys. It’s time you learn how to make your own sandwiches. 2016 is the year of the woman.
