The NFL's second-ever female coach Katie Sowers reveals the opportunity she created simply by following a passion to coach youth basketball
Katie Sowers didn't get to the NFL by accident.
The San Francisco 49ers assistant offensive coach was only the second female ever hired to coach in America's most popular sport because of an unyielding work ethic, knowledge of sport and ability to teach the game.
But she also needed a big break. And she got it by doing what she said is "getting to where we want to go by giving ourselves opportunities."
In a "Play Like a Girl" podcast with Nikki B. released last month, Sowers gives specific details how she came in contact with Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager Scott Pioli. It was both by accident, but also because she followed her passion of coaching a middle school girls basketball team.
She did it to the best of her ability and Pioli happened to notice. As far as fate or luck? A clerical error placed her in charge of the team that Pioli's daughter played on.
"That mistake in schedule is what brought me to the path of my journey," Sowers said.
The
daughter of a college basketball coach and twin of a Division I college
basketball player, Sowers' journey began as a standout multi-sport athlete
both in high school and college.
At the end of her college career, she pursued her first love to
play football, and earned the starting quarterback spot with the Kansas
City Titans of the Women's Football Alliance. She also played on the USA
Women's National Team.
During that time, coaching flashed on
her radar, and when Becky Hammon earned a spot on the NBA's San Antonio Spurs'
coaching staff, Sowers wrote a simple but clear message on
her Instagram page:
"NFL, I'm coming for you."
And now she and the 49ers are all on board.
Photo courtesy of San Francisco 49ers
