Trailblazing

Episode 41: Terri Bryant (One of only a handful of women coaching football in the state of Kentucky)

In this episode, I sit down with Terri Bryant, one of the few women coaching a boys’ football team, to discuss breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport and the challenges she’s faced along the way.

🔹 Breaking Barriers in Boys’ Football – While it’s common for men to coach girls’ teams, it’s still rare to see women leading boys’ teams. Terri shares how she’s had to prove herself time and time again.

🔹 Fighting Double Standards – Men coaching sports they never played is rarely questioned, but women in the same position face extra scrutiny. Terri discusses the biases she encounters as both a woman and a Black woman in coaching.

🔹 Assumptions & Stereotypes – Before people knew her role, many assumed she was a “Team Mom” or a cheerleading coach rather than the head coach.

🔹 Barriers for Women in Coaching – Even in girls’ sports, coaching roles are still dominated by men, making it difficult for women to break into leadership positions.

🔹 The Rise of Girls’ Flag Football – As one of the fastest-growing sports, girls’ flag football is creating new coaching opportunities—Terri wants to see women filling these roles.

🔹 Kids vs. Adults: Who Really Has the Bias? – Young athletes have no problem accepting female coaches—it’s the parents and other adults who struggle to adjust.

🔹 Parental Influence & Respect for Coaches – Kids mirror their parents’ attitudes. When parents undermine coaches, they create uncoachable athletes.

🔹 Confidence in Coaching – “I’m humble, but you have to have confidence in these positions because there’s a lot of criticism.”

And of course… MORE HOT TAKES!