San Antonio Spurs hires first female assistant coach in history for a male pro sport

[davidn3600]

In their typically ho-hum manner, the Spurs announced on their website Tuesday that six-time WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon will join the defending NBA championship coaching staff this season.

While University of South Carolina women's basketball coach Lisa Boyer worked as a volunteer assistant on the Cavaliers staff in 2001-02, and Natalie Nakase just wrapped up a stint as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers' Las Vegas Summer League squad, Hammon, 37, is believed to be the first female officially hired as an assistant coach in NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL history. Hammon announced plans to retire from the WNBA following her 16th season in the league, including the last eight as point guard of the San Antonio Stars.

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It's been a banner year for the NBA in terms of progression. Jason Collins became the first openly gay player in American professional sports history when he joined the Nets in February, and just this past week Violet Palmer — the NBA's first female referee — also became its first openly gay ref. The National Basketball Players Association also recently elected Michele Roberts its executive director, installing her as the first woman at the helm of a major U.S. sports union.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/spurs-make-former-wnba-star-becky-hammon-first-female-coach-in-nba-history-174852692.html

Coaching jobs, even outside the pros, has been a difficult glass ceiling for women in the world of sports. Men even tend to make up most coaches in female sports.

[LittleBlue]

1. I was wondering when this would happen

There are a handful of women coaches at the high school level.

I never understood why women couldn't do it. They just have to convince the players to listen to them, have good ideas about strategy, and it shouldn't be a problem.

[davidn3600]

2. It's a combination of things

Many (although not all) coaches were at one time players of the game. The male version of a sport is considered to be athletically superior by most people. So people tend to prefer a male coach. Professional female sports also usually lack money and attention compared to the men.

There are also a lot of stereotypes involved.

[mythology]

3. Convincing the players is part of the problem I imagine

But also convincing an owner/general manager that you can command the player's respect.

Joining an organization like the Spurs is a good choice. The organization is stable and has an entrenched coach along with a team that does what the coach says, starting with the franchise players like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. It also helps that the team is really good as people could point to a woman coach, even an assistant coach, as part of the problem if the team has a poor record.

[Ilsa]

4. Woo-hoo & Go Spurs! nt

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. Spurs are one class organization.

--from a Lakers fan

[seabeyond]

6. yea. i am glad to hear. my son was recruited with a female coach. actually a number of them

in his sport in the college level. they offered and abiltiy to converse for very a very long time with my always interested, talkative son, unlike a lot of the male coaches. one of the reasons he accepted in the college he did was this particular woman. mama bear.... for college students walking out of their home. i can see a lot of advantages. especially when it comes to the young male coaches with egos, trying to prove or match up with the athlete.

interesting. and good to hear.

[malaise]

7. Historic

and progressive. This is HUGE!!

[Rhinodawg]

8. Very cool. You go girl.