The San Francisco Giants made history this year when they hired Alyssa Nakken as an assistant coach. She’s the first full-time female coach in the 151-year history of Major League Baseball.
“It’s just nuts to think this hasn’t happened before,” Nakken says.
Growing up in Woodland, California, Nakken loved playing softball. She was a star softball player in high school and was the captain of her college team at Sacramento State University. But she never dreamed she’d one day coach pro baseball.
Then Nakken earned a master’s degree in sports management. In 2014, she got a job with the Giants. She worked behind the scenes for the next few years and was promoted to assistant coach in January. Nakken will work with players on base-running and fielding. She hopes to inspire girls.
“I feel a great responsibility with the younger girls looking up to me,” Nakken says. “It’s an honor.”