🌱 From Shy to Strong: How Football Shaped the Woman I Became

At 18, I was quiet. Unsure. A girl just stepping into adulthood.

By the time I retired from professional football, I had grown into a confident woman who had not only played at the highest levels of the game—but learned some of life’s deepest lessons along the way.

And football was just the beginning.

🌍 The Field Was My Classroom

When I joined my first team, I walked into a huddle with women from every walk of life. Lawyers, doctors, students, waitresses, single moms, corporate leaders. You name it, we had it.

That kind of diversity didn’t just build a team. It built me.

It opened my eyes to how different every person’s journey can be—and how much I had to be grateful for. I heard stories from teammates who hadn’t spoken to their families in years. Women who had no support system. One coach even told us about sleeping on a concrete floor - no pillow and no blankets - because his mom couldn’t afford beds for all the kids she was generously providing a home for.

It shook me. And it changed me.

💖 A New Level of Gratitude

Hearing those stories made me see my family in a new light. The kind of support I’d always known? Not everyone had that. That realization sparked something inside me—a deeper appreciation, not just for my family, but for every little thing I once took for granted.

That was when my real growth began.

Because from that moment on, I didn’t just show up to play football. I showed up for life.

🧠 Lessons That Go Way Beyond Football

Some of the most powerful things I’ve learned in this sport had nothing to do with route running or throwing touchdowns.

I learned to lead.

To listen.

To humble myself.

To see people—not just players.

I realized that even when I wasn’t on the field, I carried everything football taught me into my personal life. Into parenting. Into coaching. Into how I approach every relationship I have today.

👩‍👧 Now I’m Teaching My Kids What the Game Taught Me

Every time I talk to my kids about being thankful, working hard, or sticking through something tough—I think of my teammates. I think of their stories. And I realize how much those years of playing helped me become a better mom.

Football gave me so much more than stats and trophies.

It gave me perspective.

And now, as Coach Dakota, I do everything I can to help my athletes grow into the best versions of themselves—on and off the field.

🙌 The “Dakota Way”

I coach with empathy.

I lead with gratitude.

I teach my players that football is fun—but it’s also formative.

If I can pass on even a piece of what this sport gave me—strength, confidence, and appreciation—then I know I’m doing it right.

✨ Want Your Daughter to Grow Through the Game Too?

At DH Flag Football, we don’t just train athletes—we build strong, confident girls who carry the lessons of the field into every part of their lives.

👉 Join our community of parents and players who are growing together.

Because the game? It's just the beginning.