Michigan hires first female grad assistant coach at Power 5 level
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football announced the hire today of Mimi Bolden-Morris as a grad assistant working with the quarterbacks.
Michigan's announcement states this is the first time a female has been hired as a grad assistant coach in the Big Ten and the first at the Power 5 level.
From Michigan's statement:
An outstanding student, she is considering the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy or the School of Social Work, both rated among the top five programs in the country, for her graduate studies at Michigan. Bolden-Morris just completed her playing career in basketball at Georgetown University and will begin her appointment at Michigan on June 1 after earning her master's degree in sports management this May.
"I have always believed in providing opportunities for individuals who are passionate about football and Mimi is someone who has shown that drive to become a football coach," said Harbaugh. "Mimi reached out and expressed an interest in our graduate assistant positions when we had multiple openings this spring. We had some great conversations and I came away extremely impressed with her desire and ideas for coaching, and for making us better as a team. Mimi is a very bright, intelligent and competitive young woman who will be a great addition to our program and offensive coaching staff. We look forward to having Mimi transition into this role working with our quarterbacks. We can't wait to see the new perspective she brings to our team."
"The opportunity to be the first female GA in the Power 5, especially the Big Ten, is an absolute honor," said Bolden-Morris. "It speaks volumes to the efforts that Coach Harbaugh has made to create an environment of inclusion. These opportunities have been an anomaly for a black woman until recently. Growing up watching my dad coach my brother, it has always been my dream to be a part of a football team in some form, so this opportunity is allowing me to live out a dream of mine, especially working with quarterbacks. Coming from the basketball world, guards and quarterbacks are one in the same. Both have the ability to make decisions under duress, read defenses, take care of the ball, and execute with precision and accuracy."
"I know that Coach Harbaugh and his staff will prepare me with the tools and knowledge to be the best because that's who they are and all they know," added Bolden-Morris. "They bleed blue! Having the ability to work in such a prestigious and winning environment will mold me to create other opportunities for women who are seeking a similar career path. I may be the first woman to do this, at this level, but I know my purpose is greater and that I can use this blessing to assist others."
Bolden-Morris was a guard for the Georgetown University women's basketball team for the past year-and-a-half. She transferred into Georgetown as a graduate student midway through the 2020-21 season and played with the Hoyas during the 2021-22 season.
Bolden-Morris is the sister of current Michigan player Mike Morris.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching news.
A reader points out that Georgia Tech, under Bill Curry had a female graduate assistant named Carol White on staff working with the team's kickers back in 1986.
Here's a link to that article from 1986. It's fascinating to read coach Curry's quotes on White, the value she brings, and how he viewed her addition to the staff as advantageous in a lot of ways.
