Slusser: A’s hire first female coach, SABR member Justine Siegal, to be guest instructor
From Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle on September 29, 2015, on SABR member Justine Siegal:
On Tuesday, the A’s became the first major-league team to employ a woman coach, naming Justine Siegal a guest instructor for their Instructional League club.
“It’s a dream come true,” Siegal said by phone. “The A’s are a first-class organization and it will be an honor to wear their uniform.”
Siegal, who became the first woman to coach men professionally in 2009 when she was the first-base coach for the independent league Brockton Rox, will work with A’s minor-leaguers from Oct. 4 through Oct. 17.
“We feel like Justine has a lot to offer and that (the Instructional League) is a great place to get her feet wet,” A’s assistant general manager David Forst said. “She’ll be doing a little bit of everything.”
According to Forst, Siegal will work with infielders, hit fungos and throw batting practice, among other duties. Plus, Siegal, 40, has a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology. Forst said that director of player development Keith Lieppman and director of minor-league operations Ted Polakowski are looking forward to having Siegal lead classroom presentations about the mental side of the game.
Read the full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-hire-woman-coach-Justine-Siegal-to-6538183.php?t=eedf0b91e6&cmpid=fb-premium
- Related link: SABR member Justine Siegal makes history by throwing batting practice (February 21, 2011)
Originally published: September 29, 2015. Last Updated: September 29, 2015.