You recently made the move from player to assistant coach in women’s flag football. What did you learn as a player that helped you take on this leadership role? Did you see that path for yourself always?

I learned a ton about not only the sport and international competition but what it takes mentally to be on a national team. I think that is something that really helped me in my first year of coaching. I was able to relate with the women in a way that most coaches can’t because I was just in their shoes a year prior. I definitely knew I wanted to get into coaching because I truly enjoy the strategy of the game. However, I didn’t expect it to come so quickly after playing so I had some imposter syndrome when I was hired.

You are involved in a new and exciting sport that is growing every day. Why do you think women are kicking ass in this sport?

This is the first time women have a high-level, non-contact opportunity to play football. I think there are so many women who loved to play or watch football growing up, but there were so few opportunities to play. Now that we have this path, so many women are coming out of the woodwork to try and make this sport succeed so the younger generation of girls can have what we didn’t at their age.

How did sports help you as a young girl? What would you say to a parent of a young girl about the power sports can give girls?

Sports taught me that barriers don’t have to be the end of the road, but a detour guiding you to a better path. In 5th and 6th grade I was the only girl in an all-boys tackle football league and I never thought I was any different, I just wanted to play a sport I loved. Looking back, if I had never taken the chance to “break a barrier” and be the only girl, I most likely would not be where I am today as a former player and current coach of the USWFFNT.

We’d love to know if you have a mantra that has helped you succeed as an athlete and now coach. How do you combat the negative voices? We suspect you have a great one!

I often think: “How lucky am I to be a part of something that I never dreamed of because it didn’t exist?” It is wild to think that no one could have predicted flag football would rise to this level, and to know that I am a part of leading the charge truly feels like fantasy.