“It’s Not My Job to Change Your Mind, It’s My Job to Just Live Authentically”: Factors in the Decision to Be ‘Out’ and Experiences of LGB+ NCAA D-I Assistant Coaches of Women’s Sport

Abstract

Intercollegiate athletics is well defined in sport scholarship as a realm permeated by homonegativity, heteronormativity, sexism, and racism. While socio-political developments over the last few decades show a cultural progression toward LGBTQIA+ inclusion and acceptance, the evidence of such an evolution in sport is fragmented. Scholars point to increases in visibility, allyship and advocacy organizations, and the implementation of new rules and resolutions evidencing commitment to diversity and inclusion. However, even with these changes, the literature shows that homophobia and heteronormativity, in addition to sexism and racism, are still present in sporting spaces and institutions. This study builds on previous work documenting that university- sanctioned online coaching biographies contribute to the preservation of heteronormativity in intercollegiate coaching (Calhoun et al., 2011; LaVoi & Glassford, 2021). Based on family narratives collected for all paid coaching positions in NCAA D-I women’s sport as part of the annual Women in College Coaching Report CardTM, this study seeks to explore the experiences of LGB+ assistant coaches in NCAA D-I women’s athletics, as well as decision-making structures and outcomes for including or excluding a same-sex partner in one’s online coaching biography. Utilizing a Foucauldian lens and the ecological-intersectional model, this qualitative interview-based study illustrates coaches must navigate dominant heteronormative narratives in intercollegiate coaching, though individual experiences may be largely positive and point to a changing landscape. Implications of the study and recommendations for future research are offered.