Maybe I lack imagination, but I would think it would be difficult for a woman to be on the field with a whistle trying to boss around Ray Rice and Suh and the like and be taken seriously by players.
A woman in a closet analyzing film seems plausible.
not many examples, but nancy lieberman coached a d-league team in 2010. here is what one of her players said:
Coaching D-League team is natural fit for Nancy Lieberman
Former Oklahoma player Keith Clark, now a member of the Legends squad, said playing for Lieberman is like playing for any coach.
"As soon as I heard she was our coach, I googled her," Clark said. "I was impressed with everything I read about her. It isn't a stretch that she is coaching a men's team. She knows the game. It was really no big deal for me. My mom was one of my first coaches."
Clark said Lieberman earned the respect of her players and opponents.
"Players would come up and ask me how it feels to play for a girl coach," Clark said. "No different than playing for a man. To them it's shocking, but to us, she's coach."
Tulsa coach Nate Tibbetts has respect for Lieberman.
"I've gotten to know her a little bit," he said. "She knows her stuff. She wouldn't have gotten the job if she didn't. She's done a wonderful job, and I think her guys enjoy playing for her."
lieberman's an assistant coach for the sacramento kings now.