Even if you’re not a football fan, chances are you heard by now of Kelsey Martinez. The 26-year-old Colorado State Graduate joined Oakland’s strength and conditioning staff this off season and was brought on by Tom Shaw. Here are a few things to know about one of the only female coaches (and the first Latina!) in the NFL:
She’s Raider’s first-EVER female assistant coach.
She joins the Silver and Black for her first NFL season. This is HUGE!
She’s the second female strength and conditioning coach in league history.
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Martinez joins the team after four years at Tom Shaw Performance, where she specialized in high performance training. She worked under Raider’s strength and conditioning coordinator Tom Shaw.
Martinez oversaw the development and training of a number of highly drafted NFL players.
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In fact, some of her notable trainees include 2014 Raider first-round pick DE Khalil Mack, 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year QB Dak Prescott, Heisman Trophy winner RB Derrick Henry, and RB Saquon Barkley is who is this year’s No.2 overall selection. She’s definitely had her fair share of working with serious and professional athletes.
Martinez always loved sports.
Growing up she hated being indoors and played softball. She played collegiate baseball at Bethany college and her dream of being a trainer was inspired by being around athletes.
Martinez knows how rare it is to be a female coach in her industry.
But she still wants to be seen as coach first, female coach second and we get that.
