Photo Credit: Mark Duncan/Associated Press
What a year to be a female in sports! The NFL kicked off the initiative to hire the first female NFL coach/intern Dr. Jen Welter who coached for the Arizona Cardinals and before that, the NFL hired their first full-time female referee, but now it looks like the rest of the sports world is trying to catch up. The MLB is jumping on the train and has decided to hire the league’s first female coach. However, they have followed almost the exact formula that the NFL has used, hiring her for a temporary position.
The Oakland Athletics’ newest coach is named Justine Siegal and has a lot more in common with Welter than just being the first coach in their respective sports. Siegal has her Ph.D. in sports and exercise psychology according to Bleacher Report and has coached multiple baseball leagues. However, this is her first time working for a professional baseball team. Siegal’s philanthropic efforts might end up going to the wayside for now, but she founded Baseball For All whose mission statement really tells you all you need to know about her and the organization, “Baseball For All is dedicated to providing meaningful instruction and opportunities in baseball, especially for girls.” which is why she would be the perfect person to break out as the first female MLB coach.
Siegal shared on Twitter her gratitude with the organization for giving her a chance.
Honored and grateful to be a guest coach for @Athletics during Instructional League. Baseball really is a game for all. #DreamBig
— Justine Siegal PhD (@justinebaseball) September 29, 2015
When asked about Siegal receiving a full-time position, A’s assistant GM David Forst said, “Justine knows that nothing has been promised, but we’re not ruling that out.” No matter how long it is, Siegal is going to be another great role model for young girls to look up to. Congratulations Justine!
