“While I’m proud to be part of what this all means,” Randolph said, “being female has nothing to do with it. I love football. I love football, I love teaching, I love these kids. My being female has nothing to do with my support and respect for my players on the field and in the classroom.”
The news conference drew the kind of attention usually reserved for the Washington Redskins and was delayed nearly two hours so Fenty, who is up for re-election this year, could be there and proclaim “Natalie Randolph Day” in the city.
Randolph was chosen from about 15 candidates after the previous coach resigned. The Washington native and University of Virginia track star played six seasons as a receiver for the D.C. Divas of the National Women’s Football Association, helping the team win the title in 2006.
She also was an assistant coach from 2006-08 at another D.C. high school, H.D. Woodson, where opposing coaches would throw funny looks her way when told she was on the staff.
Now she’s a head coach, ready to dispel naysayers. And she doesn’t plan to do it by screaming in the kids’ faces.
“I’m probably more Tony Dungyesque,” said Randolph, who has a copy of the Super Bowl-winning coach’s book. “I’m soft-spoken, so me yelling is not me. I’m going to be me. That’s what I do in the classroom. When I get observed, the observers say ‘I didn’t expect you to be able to handle this class,’ but I do what I have to do to get it done.”
Randolph’s finance, Thomas Byrd, warned that Randolph’s polite demeanor could be misleading — “She packs a mean punch,” he said — and her Divas teammates were on hand to describe the grit that kept her playing on a severely injured ankle several years ago.
But Randolph will no doubt have to work a bit harder than the average coach to win the respect of players, opposing coaches and the football community at large.
Keith Bulluck, a 10-year NFL veteran, posted on Twitter that he’s “not saying it can’t be done or shouldn’t be done. Football is clearly a mans sport & it’s 2 be seen how young men take to their coach being a woman.”
Randolph, her hair in dreadlocks with blonde highlights, wore a stylish necklace Friday. Some of her players already know and respect her — she’s been a teacher at the school for two years. They also know players on other teams will have a field day talking trash.
“I need trash talk as my ammunition to do better,” junior defensive tackle Daniel West said. “There’s nothing like proving somebody wrong. And I think that’s what we’re going to have to do this season — because a lot of people have something to say about her being our coach, and I feel like it’s my duty and it’s the team’s duty to prove everybody wrong, to show that it doesn’t matter. As soon as we start winning, everybody will want to be on the bandwagon.”
Coolidge went 6-4 last season under coach Jason Lane and has a state-of-the-art field, so it’s not necessarily a school that needs to draw attention. Principal Thelma Jarrett insisted that in “no way” was this a publicity stunt.
“On the field, in the classroom — we’ll prove ‘em wrong,” Jarrett said.
Added Randolph: “People are always going to think negative things. I know what the deal is. My administration supports me, the kids support me. So that’s all that really matters.”
The schedule, however, poses an unusual challenge. Her finance is the offensive coordinator at Woodson. That should make for an interesting week when the rivals play.
“Good competition, good fun,” she said with a smile. “I love you all over there, but we’re going to beat you on the field and go hang out later.”

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Kingston lost 45-23. The Bucs will play at 12:30 p.m. against Squalicum in a loser-out game Thursday. Kingston was shut out in the third quarter and scored just four points in the fourth.

Elsa Brown and Amanda Carper each led Kingston with five points, Laura Wicklein had four points and Sophia Baetz finished with two points.

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UPDATE: Prosser leads Kingston 30-19 in the third quarter.

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Bremerton (16-7) vs. Rainier Beach (22-3), Noon

Rainier Beach has yet to lose to an in-state opponent this season. The Vikings are loaded with long, athletic players and they use that to their advantage on defense. They frequently apply full-court pressure, which has given teams fits all year.

The Vikings are led by Lonnie Pearson, a 6-5 senior guard/forward, who averages 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Jaamon Echols, a 6-0 senior guard, averages 15 points and six assists for Rainier Beach, while Hikeem Stewart scores 13 points per game. In the middle for Rainier Beach is Michael Middlebrooks, who blocks four shots a game.

Bremerton boasts the Olympic League MVP, Jarell Flora. The 6-2 senior guard — he has committed to Seattle University — averages 23.8 points per game, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals.

Terrick McGhee (10.7 points), Charles Wilson (10.1 points) and Andre Coleman (15.5 points) — cousin of former Bremerton star Marvin Williams, now with the Atlanta Hawks — all average in double figures.

ONE MORE CLARIFICATION … Kingston’s opponent in the Class 2A tournament, Prosser, is 18-3 and ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll. The Mustangs placed sixth at state a year ago. They reached the semifinals, then lost two straight.

AND DON’T FORGET … Wednesday’s Bremerton-Rainier Beach game at noon will be streamed live from the Tacoma Dome.

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Class 3A Boys: Bremerton drew the noon game at the Tacoma Dome against … (ta da) No. 1-ranked Rainier Beach. Yep, the Knights have an opportunity to pull off the upset of the season. The Metro Leaguers are 22-3, with all three losses coming againt Oregon powers early in the season. The Vikings were 15-0 in the tough Metro League and are coming off a 67-59 win over Bellevue in the Sea-King District title game. Bremerton’s 16-7, and finished eighth at the West Central/South District tournament after winning the Olympic League title. If you can’t get to the T-Dome to watch, you can follow the game live online. We’ll be live streaming the game. Here’s the boys 3A draw and bracket.

Class 2A Girls: Kingston (17-5) will open state against Prosser on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Yakima SunDome. Prosser (18-5) is out of the Central Washington Athletic Conference. The Mustangs won their district title and were ranked No. 8 in the final Associated Press poll. Here’s the 2A girls draw and bracket.

Here’s the 3A girls draw.

And here’s the 2A boys draw.

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North Mason’s hopes of returning to the Class 2A state tournament in Yakima were dashed by Fife on Saturday night at Foss High in Tacoma. The final of the West Central District Tournament game: Fife 53, North Mason 46. Fife earns the No. 2 district seed to state. The story will be posted online later tonight.

2A GIRLS

Kingston vs. Interlake 8 p.m. Winner of this district game goes to state; loser is eliminated. Kingston leads 37-28 at halftime. The Bucs led by as many as 14. Remember, it’s being live streamed on our site. Go to the sports page and click on Kitsap Hoops Live!

3A BOYS

Renton 61, Bremerton 56 (OT). Both teams had already wrapped up spots at state. This was for seeding. Winner goes as the 7th seed; loser as the 8th seed. State starts Wednesday in Tacoma. The tournament draw will be held on Sunday.

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