Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Professional and Amateur Sports Coaches"

Revision as of 20:55, 20 June 2016

There is a large international field of LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. These individuals are present in a wide range of sports categories. Most have made their mark previously as athletes in their chosen sports, including Olympic medal winners, world champions or national champions. A few have earned the title of 'Coach of the Year' in their respective professions.

Regrettably, some of these individuals were fired from (or 'contracts not renewed') from their position when they came out. In all of these particular cases, this made them LGBTQ activists for change in professional sports to eliminate homophobia. Others on the list are prominent LGBTQ activists regardless and have become notable specialists in the field of diversity.

There are several firsts in the list. Eric Anderson is considered to have been the first high school coach to have come out as gay and has written a book about this - today, he is a noted Professor of Masculinities, Sexualities, and Sport. Tennis sensation Renee Richards is a noted transgender leader in sports.

The range of sports represented in the list is notable. The most popular sports are basketball, soccer/football, and tennis. These are followed by figure skating and track & field. Such a wide variety of sports begs the question why there is not greater success in challenging homophobia in sports?

We have identified the following individuals as LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. They hail from Canada, Venezuela, Australia, Cuba, Great Britain, Germany, United States, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, and Sweden. Simply click on their names to read their fascinating biographies.

Basketball

• Jennifer Azzi, United States
• Chris Burns, United States
• Helen Carroll, United States
• Kenny Dow, United States
• Curt Miller, United States
• Sherri Murrell, United States
• Sheryl Swoopes, United States
• Stephanie Wheeler, United States
• Stephanie White, United States
• Sue Wicks, United States

Biathlon

• Joan Guetschow, United States

Bodybuilding

• Shawn Stinson, United States

Boxing

• Savoy Howe, Canada

Cross-Country Skiiing

• Nat Brown, United States

Cycling

• Emma Trott, Great Britain
• Brendan Housler, United States

Diving

• Jhonmar Castillo, Venezuela

Equestrian

• Gunther Seidel, Germany

Field Hockey

• Alyson Annan, Australia

Figure Skating

• Lyndon Johnston, Canada
• Brian Orser, Canada
• Robert Wagenhoffer, United States
• David Wilson, Canada

Ice Hockey

• Yiva Lindberg, Sweden

Lacrosse

• Kyle Hawkins, United States

Soccer /Football

• Nadine Angerer, Germany
• Ursulla Holl, Germany
• Hope Powell, Great Britain
• Pia Sundhage, Sweden
• Olivier Rouyer, France

Softball

• Jenny Allard, United States
• Vicky Galindo, United States
• Sue Rankin, United States

Speedskating

• Renate Groenewold, Netherlands

Swimming

• Daniel Kowalski, Australia
• Rafael Polinario, Cuba

Tennis

• Sean Burns, United States
• Billie Jean King, United States
• Renee Richards, United States
• Tine Scheuer-Larsen, Denmark
• Simon Thibodeau, United States

Track & Field

• Eric Anderson, United States
• Harriet Metcalf, United States
• Michael Muska, United States
• Otto Peltzer, Germany

Trampoline

• Tom Bosworth, Great Britain

Triathlon

• Christopher Bergland, United States

Volleyball

• Betty Baxter, Canada

Weightlifting

• Rob Kearney, United States

Wrestling

• Gene Dermody, United States
• Hudson Taylor, United States

See Also

• LGBTQ Sports Management
• LGBTQ Sports Referees and Umpires
• LGBTQ Personal Trainers and Lifestyle Coaches
• LGBTQ Tennis
• LGBTQ Cyclists

Further Reading/Research

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