The world of sports has come a long way. However, there is still plenty of space left regarding gender equality within professional sports coaching positions. Over the years, many women have stepped into the professional sports world as coaches. When a female coach entered the professional work environment of the NFL and the private weight room 33 years ago, it was a completely different story. Usually, ex-professional male sports players were put on a higher priority list to take the franchise opportunity for these positions in the past. It took 25 years after Brandon was hired for the next female coach to walk into that arena for the Arizona Cardinals as an intern.
Lee Brandon, the first-ever female strengthening and conditioning coach in the NFL, had confidence in herself and her ability upon her arrival in the men’s “locker room” environment with professionalism and class when the NFL hired her for the NY Jets in 1990–1991. Because her name was “Lee,” the non-gendered name opened the door. Coach MackRides, who was hiring assistants then, didn’t expect a six-foot-tall blonde to walk into the interview for the position. She had to demonstrate to the coaching staff that she could manage the massive workloads of the job while also providing the level of knowledge and expertise required for the Assistant Strength Coaching position. Brandon has paved her way to the top to become a notable figure in the fitness industry and, most importantly, the first female to hold the position of strengthening and conditioning coach in the history of the NFL.
Brandon was an Olympic coach for the 1984 Los Angeles, 2012 London, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 teams. She is taking on a few athletes in preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024. Brandon’s method and the patented system are utilized for training all levels of champions: moms, delivery workers, nurses, weekend warriors, golfers of all skills, and elite Olympians. She has trained many clients, from professional athletes to celebrities.
A few women claim to be the first female coaches to have worked with the NFL. Brandon, on the other hand, has Jets gear and old financial paperwork from her stint with the organization, demonstrating the validity and authenticity of her job. She worked her entire coaching and athletic career with dedication and commitment, rather than with a chip on her shoulder, as the first one. Her whole point is that if someone can do the job, it doesn’t matter what race, color, creed, or gender they are.
Lee Brandon has come a long way to get to where she is now. In 1979, at the age of 17, she fell through a plate-glass window, suffering severe injuries to her arm. The injury cost Brandon seven years of her life to recover. She became one of the first women to undergo arm reattachment in the United States. After recovering from the injury, she consciously decided to devote her life to serving others and let her pain be her superpower. She worked tirelessly to invent and explore out-of-the-box sport performance options for herself and others.
Brandon’s methodologies and technology are centered on spine performance and optimal training biomechanics. Her discoveries and approaches may impact the medical, therapeutic, Olympic, fitness, health, and wellness industries. The AB-Inforcer® Core Biofeedback Trainer was one of Oprah’s fitness favorites, voted one of the top 5 core trainers by Amazon, and adopted by hospitals, therapists, chiropractors, high-end celebrity coaches, and major universities.
At almost forty years of age, Brandon, on a dare from one of her clients, who was an investment banker, picked up a golf club for the first time to make a point—performance comes in all shapes and sizes. She went on, and a few months later, in her rookie year, she won the 2001 World Long Drive Championship. She is currently the three-time World Long Drive Champion and holds the world record for a woman over 55 to drive 330 yards in a sanctioned long drive event.
Lee Brandon serves as a role model for women in the fitness industry and those looking forward to entering the fitness sector. Through her relentless efforts, despite going through a life-changing injury, she has made a name for herself.
