Sowers was retained by the 49ers for the '18 season after joining the team last yearGETTY IMAGES
In S.F., Ann Killon profiled 49ers assistant coach KATIE SOWERS, who last year became the "second woman to hold a full-time coaching job in the NFL and the first openly gay NFL coach." Sowers appeared this week on a panel at San Jose State’s Institute for the Study of Sport, Society & Social Change, "sharing her remarkable story." While coaching fifth grade girls basketball in K.C., one of her players was the daughter of former Chiefs GM SCOTT PIOLI. The two "became friends, and Pioli learned of her football background." He became Falcons assistant GM in '14 and "brought her as an offseason assistant and scouting intern." She got to know offensive coordinator KYLE SHANAHAN, and after he became the 49ers coach, he "hired Sowers as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship." The team has retained her for the '18 season (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/16).
EXECUTIVE PICKS: Former President BARACK OBAMA's NCAA Tournament bracket predictions were posted on the Obama Foundation's website and Obama "tweeted his brackets as well." Obama picked Michigan State to win the tournament. Fellow former President GEORGE H.W. BUSH "countered Obama's selections with his own via Twitter." Bush selected Texas A&M to win the tournament. Obama replied: "41: I like the competition. And the loyalty to the home team - 44" (ESPN.com, 3/15).
NAMES: Former Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth women’s hockey coach SHANNON MILLER was legally ruled the “target of discrimination and retaliation by her former employer” and was “awarded $744,832 in lost wages and benefits,” as well as $3M for emotional distress (STARTRIBUNE.com, 3/15). Steelers WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER joined rappers DRAKE and TRAVIS SCOTT to play the videogame “Fortnite,” on Twitch streamer TYLER BLEVIN’s channel. Blevin drew a “record-breaking 600,000 views” while playing with the celebrities (NYPOST.com, 3/15).
