Coolidge head coach Natalie Randolph hugs senior Marcus Smith, left, after the semifinal game against H.D. Woodson at Cardozo High School on Saturday, November 13, 2010.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Natalie Randolph during the semifinal game at Cardozo High School.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
Randolph talks with junior Charles Gaines during the semifinal game against H.D. Woodson.
Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post
![Coolidge Coach Natalie Randolph addresses her players after their first victory Friday night, a 48-12 win over Anacostia that improved the Colts 1-5. Said Randolph, one of just a handful of female football coaches in the country: "I tried to take it one game at a time, but for anybody, 0-5 [stinks]."](http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/100310/GAL-10Mar10-4009/media/PHO-10Mar10-256610.jpg)
Coolidge Coach Natalie Randolph addresses her players after their first victory Friday night, a 48-12 win over Anacostia that improved the Colts 1-5. Said Randolph, one of just a handful of female football coaches in the country: "I tried to take it one game at a time, but for anybody, 0-5 [stinks]."
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
The Colts celebrate their first win of the season. ?We?ve got such great will power on this team,? said junior Femi Bamiro, who made his first start at quarterback and threw two touchdown passes. ?I?m so happy for Coach Randolph because she?s been working so hard for this.?
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Coolidge kick returner Jeff Nesbit breaks free for a 70 yard touchdown run against Anacostia during the Colts' 48-12 victory, their first win of the season.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Anacostia RB Dionte Burch breaks free for a big gain during the second quarter. The Indians kept things close early against Coolidge, but the Colts dominated the second half of a 48-12 win.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Coolidge RB Chris Strong gets into the end zone for one of his four TDs as the Colts beat Anacostia, 48-12, to help Coach Natalie Randolph get her first win.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Coolidge Coach Natalie Randolph gets the ceremonial Gatorade bath after getting her first win Friday, 48-12 over Anacostia. ?It means everything to me,? Randolph said. ?What they get out of it, I get out of it. I?m ecstatic for them. They needed it.?
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Coolidge Coach Natalie Randolph, carrying the game ball her players awarded her, sprints away in an (unsuccessful) effort to avoid the Gatorade bath that came with her first win.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Natalie Randolph leads the team in stretching.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph walks the locker room.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Coolidge coach Natalie Randolph arrives during stretching before her first game.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph walks along the line at the start of warm-ups.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph talks to the team before the game.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph gives her pre-game pep talk.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph fires up her team.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph talks to the coaches upstairs.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph walks the sidelines.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Keith Dickens runs around end.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Coolidge fans pack the house to watch Randolph's first game.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph coaches her team on in the first half.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the fieldNatalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph gets upset after a penalty on the goal line in the first quarter.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Archbishop Carroll quarterback Jarid Brown throws a pass.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
A full house cheers for Coolidge.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll running back Jonathan Haden scoops up the ball.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll running back Malik Jackson rumbles for a big first-half gain.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph keeps an eye on the action.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph calls a timeout during the first half.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll running back Malik Jackson runs for first half yards.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll defensive end E.J. Norris knocks the ball loose from Coolidge quarterback Jayme Hutchins, resulting in a Carroll touchdown.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll linebacker Tre Hall-Gibbonson scoops up a fumble and scores in the third quarter.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph gets after her squad during the third quarter.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Carroll running back Jonathan Haden shreds the Coolidge defense.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Natalie Randolph walks the tunnel to the field from the Coolidge club house.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph and Coolidge take the field
Randolph and her players prepare for their first game together.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Coach Natalie Randolph works with the receivers in the first practice of the season.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Randolph issues a instruction during practice.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Randolph leads her team in footwork drills during their first practice of the season.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Randolph has attracted plenty of media attention since being named head coach. An ESPN camera crew has been trailing her since April.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Several area coaches have said since her hiring that they fear losing to a Randolph-led Coolidge team, simply because of what her gender signifies.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
August 6
Randolph has been so busy that her voicemail is constantly full. Randolph's mother has learned to send text messages in order to stay in touch.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
New Coolidge coach Natalie Randolph will hold her first practice as Colts coach Friday. A former professional women's player and assistant coach at H.D. Woodson, Randolph is one of only a handful of women ever to be named head of a high school football program.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph holds her first practice as Coolidge football coach Friday. “Since she was a toddler, she had football at all of her family gatherings,” says Marilys Randolph, Natalie's mother. “That's how she learned the game . . . She's a very confident person, and confident in what she knows.”
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
March 12
D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, left, meets with Natalie Randolph, center, before Randolph was introduced as the new football coach during a press conference at Coolidge High on March 12, 2010.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph, left, has a word with principal Thelma Jarrett, center, before being introduced as the new head football coach during a press conference at Coolidge High. Behind Jarrett is D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph, right, smiles as she arrives with principal Thelma Jarrett for a press conference announcing Randolph as the new head football coach at Coolidge High.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph gets a hug from junior Daniel West as D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty prepares to introduce her as the new head football coach at Coolidge High.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph is flanked by her football players during a press conference announcing her as the new head football coach at Coolidge.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph is flanked by her new players during a press conference announcing her as the new football coach at Coolidge High.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph's fellow science teachers Antoinette Johnson, left, and Eileen Pascucci had shirts made up for Natalie.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
March 12
Natalie Randolph smiles during an interview before being introduced as the new head football coach at Coolidge High on March 12.
Ricky Carioti-Washington Post
Natalie Randolph, the new head football coach at Coolidge, coached wide receivers at H.D. Woodson. Here she brings together the wide receivers to discuss new plays in Sept. 2006.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph, who coached wide receivers at H.D. Woodson, talks to one of her players on the sidelines in Sept. 2006. Randolph will be introduced as Coolidge's head football coach at a press conference on March 12, 2010.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph keeps an eye on her players during practice at H.D. Woodson in Sept. 2006.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph (second from left) peers around the other members of the H.D. Woodson coaching staff in Sept. 2006. Randolph was named head football coach at Coolidge in March 2010.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph, in her DCIAA coaching hat, keeps an eye on the action at H.D. Woodson in Sept. 2006.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph watches her receivers at H.D. Woodson run routes during practice in Sept. 2006.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Natalie Randolph, wide receivers coach at H.D. Woodson in 2006, is the new head football coach at Coolidge, making her perhaps the only female head varsity football coach in the country.
Preston Keres-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer Stephen Cook, Gabrielle Bluestone
