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Boston Red Sox Hire Bianca Smith, Making Her First Black Female Coach in Pro Baseball

History has been made twice! The first African-American woman is becoming the official minor league coach of the Boston Red Sox. This comes after the first woman became head coach in the NBA. Let’s go, girls!

Bianca Smith & Becky Hammon Become Legends

Bianca Smith, 29, is officially the minor league coach for the Boston Red Sox after being hired on Monday.

Smith is the second woman to become a coach, but her achievement is also special due to the fact she is the first African-American to coach a professional baseball team.

“The opportunity is amazing,” Smith said of the hiring on MLB Network. “I’m still wrapping my head around it. I probably won’t have it sink in until I’m actually there.”

Becky Hammon also made history after becoming the first woman to serve in the NBA as a head coach. She gained the title after a technical foul ended with Gregg Popovich being sent out of the game.

“Obviously, it’s a big deal,” Hammon told ESPN. “It’s a substantial moment. I’ve been a part of this organization. I got traded here in 2007. So I’ve been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years. So I have a lot of time invested. And they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better.”

Celebrating Women in Sports

Before taking on the job with the Red Sox, Smith was an assistant coach/hitting coordinator at Carroll University. This chance to be hired by the Red Sox as a minor league coach is even more important due to the fact she will go down in history as the first African-American female baseball coach.

Bianca’s Story Delivers Hope

Bianca Smith discusses the joy she feels to have her hard work pay off and achieve this position.

“I’m excited to get that chance to show them what I can do,” she adds. “I’m going to do what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years. Continue to keep learning, and continue to keep researching as much as I can. I’ve still got several weeks here at Caroll so I get to work with my players here. It’s great preparation coaching non-stop for 7 to 8 weeks before I get started with the Red Sox.”

This is an inspirational decision for the minor league baseball organization and NBA.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to inspire other women that are interested in this game,” said Smith.

Smith hopes to encourage other women and young girls to believe anything is possible regardless of their differences. If you work hard enough, believe in yourself, and focus on your goals, you can do what you set your mind to.

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