Autumn Lockwood is first Black female coach in a Super Bowl
PHILADELPHIA (BVM) – Philadelphia Eagles assistant sports performance coach Autumn Lockwood is set to make Super Bowl history. At kickoff, Lockwood becomes the first Black female to coach in the big game and just the fourth woman to coach in the Super Bowl overall.
With the @Eagles advancing to #SBLVII, Coach Autumn Lockwood will become 4th woman to coach in a Super Bowl, and the first Black woman to do so.
What an achievement. 👏 #NGWSD pic.twitter.com/j6HdsO6dit
— NFL (@NFL) February 1, 2023
Lockwood is more than deserving of being the representative for this special honor. The daughter of longtime college football assistant coach David Lockwood, Autumn understands what it takes to be a high-quality coach in the game.
“My coaching philosophy and how I work is approaching each day with a ‘how can I get better?’ mindset,’ Autumn described on her LinkedIn profile. “I always assess my athletes and their movement patterns. I believe finding out where an athlete can maximize their performance potential is important. I am constantly finding ways for athletes to get stronger, faster, and be able to move efficiently. I believe in sound strength and conditioning programs that have a core basis around functional movements. Finding what works best for the population of athletes that I am working with is my priority.”
While Autumn knows what it takes to be a coach from her father before her, she also has a wealth of experience herself. After a solid soccer career at the University of Arizona, Autumn entered the coaching world as an Olympic Strength and Conditioning intern with the Wildcats where she ran the in-season warmup and strength training for the cheer team as well as working with various other athletic programs.
Trailblazer.@ArizonaSoccer letterwinner Autumn Lockwood, a Sports Performance Coach with the Eagles, will become the first Black woman to 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 coach in the Super Bowl.#BHM x #NGWSD pic.twitter.com/s3wweeUPKJ
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) February 1, 2023
After six months working with Arizona, Autumn hit the gridiron as an assistant football strength and conditioning coaching intern with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She worked with the Rebels football program for the entire 2017-18 football season. She then made her first jump to the NFL when she did a four-week internship with the Atlanta Falcons with their strength and conditioning staff.
Autumn then returned to school as a graduate assistant at East Tennessee State University where she earned a master’s degree in sports management. She was then promoted from her assistantship to the assistant director of basketball sports performance where she coached off-season and in-season programs for women’s Basketball as well as assisted with the men’s basketball team from 2018-21.
Following her time with ETSU, Autumn joined the athletics staff at the University of Houston as the Coordinator of Sports Performance for the women’s soccer, women’s basketball and softball programs. She held the position from February 2021 to July 2022.
In August, Autumn joined the Eagles staff in her current position. She was just one of 15 female coaches in the NFL this past season.
Extremely grateful to announce I’ve started as an Assistant Sports Performance Coach with the @Eagles
Thank you Houston for the last 1 1/2 years. I cherished every moment spent in H-town and every relationship I made there 🤍
Thank you @Eagles for this incredible opportunity!! pic.twitter.com/EHjo5iSwze
— Autumn Lockwood (@AMLockwood_) August 6, 2022
Now, following her long coaching journey, Autumn has reached the pinnacle of football in just her first season in the NFL. While she will leave her mark on Super Bowl history this season, Autumn Lockwood is a name to remember in coaching circles for years to come.
Grateful for these ladies and for all women in sports that have led the way and have been the light for me and so many others! 🫶🏽👑
Happy National Women and Girls in Sports Day 💚 pic.twitter.com/KsImuw2RJ2
— Autumn Lockwood (@AMLockwood_) February 1, 2023
