The Oakland A’s are following the lead of the San Antonio Spurs and Arizona Cardinals by hiring a female coach.
The A’s announced Tuesday that they have hired Justine Siegal to serve as a guest instructor for their Instructional League team next month. Siegal is expected to throw batting practice, hit fungos, and work with infielders. Siegal, who threw batting practice for the A’s, Indians, Rays, Cardinals, Astros and Mets in 2011, says she is willing to do much more.
The 40-year-old believes she will be able to use her background of having a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology to help the team.
“As a rookie coach, I expect to hit a lot of fungos, throw a lot of batting practice and help out wherever they want me to help,” Siegal said. “And I do like talking about life skills; I like to help people achieve their life goals.”
Siegal seems to have a great attitude and says she is willing to do anything the team wants, including carrying water. She also believes the players will accept her coaching.
“I’ve found from experience that men are surprised to have a woman coach, but when they realize you know what you’re talking about and that you care, you fit right in with the rest of the staff,” Siegal told the San Francisco Chronicle.
A’s assistant GM David Forst says nothing has been promised to Siegal as far as full-time jobs go, but that is a possibility.
Siegal getting this opportunity is not too surprising. Not only does she have a strong educational background in sports, but she also went to MLB scout school; she serves as head coach and founder of “Baseball For All,” a non-profit aimed towards achieving equal opportunities for girls in baseball; and she is the co-chairperson of SABR’s Women in Baseball Committee.
Honored and grateful to be a guest coach for @Athletics during Instructional League. Baseball really is a game for all. #DreamBig
— Justine Siegal (@justinebaseball) September 29, 2015
And what’s her philosophy?
It is not about being the "first" or the "only"…it's about creating a pathway for the girls coming up.
— Justine Siegal (@justinebaseball) September 28, 2015
In the past year, great strides have been made with regard to women in sports. The Spurs had Becky Hammon coach their Summer League team; the Arizona Cardinals had Jen Welter intern with the team as a coach; and the Sacramento Kings hired Nancy Lieberman as an assistant coach. It’s 2015, and barriers are being broken.
