Natalie Randolph makes history. Randolph, a 29-year-old biology and environmental sciences teacher, is now the new head coach for the Coolidge Colts at Coolidge High School in D.C.
According to Matt Terl at the Redskin's Blog, Randolf is one of two female high school head coaches in history nationwide to hold that position at any level--Randolph and Debbie Vance, at Lehman High in the Bronx. Vance thinks Randolph’s most important asset will be her support system.
At the press conference, an event for Randolph with enough publicity for an NFL playoff, the D. C. mayor, Adrian Fenty, "Natalie Randolph Day." And that wasn't all, Randolph appeared on Good Morning America and the Early Show, interviews on CNN and MSNBC, as well as stories in The Washington Post and The New York Times and USA Today.
Two years before, Randolph assistant coached on the football team at H.D. Woodson High School. Since becoming head coach, Randolph has taken on seven volunteer assistant coaches, including D.C. legend, Bob Headen, who retired after 25 years as the head football coach at Woodson, where he won eight championships and sent a handful of players into the NFL..
"I told her I would mentor her and I would coach the line," Headen said. "Look at her background. She went to a prestigious school (Virginia) and she earned a scholarship. She was not handed one. And she's got six years of professional football. She's got the experience.
"I knew no one would take her seriously, that no one would believe that a woman could do the job, but the thing I've always said is, 'Suppose Rosa (Parks) got off the bus.' I'm a coach that believes in a challenge and this is a historical challenge."
Randolph has a big job on her hands, and she hasn't let her size impede her success. Randolph is only 5-foot-3, 130 pounds. Only in sports is it appropriate to give a womans weight, and she is proud of it.
"She's a fiery little woman," Headen said.
Randolph isn't new to football. She is a Washington native and University of Virginia track star who played six seasons as a receiver for the D.C. Divas of the National Women's Football Association, helping the team win the title in 2006.
At the Huffinton Post, Randolph said, "I'm probably more Tony Dungyesque," said Randolph, who has a copy of the Super Bowl-winning coach's book. "I'm soft-spoken, so me yelling is not me. I'm going to be me. That's what I do in the classroom. When I get observed, the observers say 'I didn't expect you to be able to handle this class,' but I do what I have to do to get it done."
No one questions that Natalie Randolph can do the job and everyone expect wins this coming football season.
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