Female All-Pro Running Back Named Head Coach of California High School Football Team

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In a historic move, Jazmin Gamble, an All-Pro running back in the Women's National Football Conference, has been named the new head coach of the Hawthorne High School football team in California. Gamble, who was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, will be taking over a Cougars program that finished 2-8 last season but made the playoffs four years in a row under the previous coach.

Why it matters

Gamble's appointment as a female head coach of a high school football team is a significant milestone for the sport, as women remain underrepresented in leadership roles at the high school and college levels. Her elite playing experience and passion for athlete development could help turn around the struggling Cougars program.

The details

Gamble, who played for the Los Angeles Legends in the WNFC, led the league in rushing yards (549) last year, averaging 11.9 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns. As a linebacker, she also made 30 tackles and three sacks. The Cougars finished 2-8 last season, with their only wins coming against Firebaugh (54-7) and Beverly Hills (42-7). However, they made the playoffs four years in a row under former coach Corey Thedford, including a quarterfinal appearance in 2021 and a semifinal appearance in 2023.

• Gamble met with her players and their parents in the last week of March 2026.
• The Cougars finished the 2025 season with a 2-8 record.

What’s next

Gamble will begin her tenure as head coach of the Hawthorne High School Cougars in the 2026 season, where she will look to turn around the struggling program and lead them back to the playoffs.