National Girls and Women in Sports Day is Sunday at JPJA
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Following a home contest vs. Maryland on Friday (Jan. 21), Virginia hosts in-state rival Virginia Tech on Sunday (Jan. 23) at 2 p.m., at John Paul Jones Arena as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day at UVa. Former Virginia All-ACC track performer and current varsity football coach at Calvin Coolidge High School, Natalie Randolph, will be honored as part of the celebration.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day brings national attention to the achievements of female athletes and to issues facing girls and women in sport. Sunday’s event is co-sponsored by the University of Virginia Athletic Department and the University of Virginia Women’s Center.
Randolph – the second woman ever to be head coach of a varsity football team and the only active one in the country – excelled as a receiver and special-teams player for Washington’s semipro tackle football team before becoming an assistant high school coach at H.D. Woodson High School. She is now the head varsity football coach at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School in Washington, D.C., and teaches environmental science.
Randolph is a former All-ACC performer for the Virginia track and field program in her signature event, the 400-meter hurdles, and graduated from Virginia with an undergraduate degree in 2002 and a master’s degree in education in 2003. Randolph started as a walk-on, earned a scholarship in her third year and finished her career with a second-place finish at the ACC Championships.
When Randolph was announced as the head football coach at Calvin Coolidge, she garnered national attention. She was a guest on Good Morning America, was featured on the cover of Parade Magazine and was the subject for an ESPN feature story.
For her successful break-through of the ‘glass ceiling,’ Randolph will be recognized at halftime of the women’s basketball game.
In addition to the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration, it is “ACC Day” at JPJA. Fans will have a chance to have their photo taken with the ACC Women’s Basketball She Can Play! inflatable shoe outside the Cavalier Team Shop prior to the game.
During the photo opportunity, fans can also sign up for raffle prizes and pick up Silly Bandz with all the ACC team logos (while supplies last).
Tickets for Friday and Sunday’s women’s basketball games may be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com, by phone at (800) 542-8821 or in person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.