New woman coach of DC high school football team: ‘Being female has nothing to do with it’

Woman is new coach of DC high school football team

WASHINGTON — The new high school football coach in the nation’s capital says being a woman has nothing to do with her getting the job.

Natalie Randolph was introduced Friday before cheering players and staff as the coach at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School in Washington. She is believed to be the only woman coaching a high school varsity football team in the U.S.

Her news conference drew the kind of attention usually reserved for the Washington Redskins. It was delayed nearly two hours so Mayor Adrian Fenty could attend and proclaim “Natalie Randolph Day” in the city.

Randolph is a 29-year-old biology and environmental sciences teacher. She played receiver in a women’s football league and was an assistant coach at another D.C. school.