DANIELLE MARMER
Title IX–the US federal civil rights law–was enacted more than 50 years ago as part of the Education Amendments (1972).
In lay terms, the law was passed to ensure that male and female students and employees in educational settings were treated equally and fairly.
It was written to protect against discrimination based on sex, as in gender.
Passed by Congress on January 1, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
If women on the one hand, and African Americans on the other, were polled, the chances are that the consensus would be that while we’ve come a long way, we still have miles to go before we sleep.
Many, many miles if not light years.
But shouldn’t we be happy for progress made?
However modest and snail-like that progress may be?
Not sure.
In baseball, women have been appointed as coaches, scouts and executives.
And a manager.
Andrea Hayden (Twins).
Rachel Folden (Cubs).
Rachel Balkovec (Yankees).
Eve Rosenbaum (Orioles).
Alyssa Nakken (Giants).
Kim Ng (Marlins).
Bianca Smith (Red Sox).
Sara Goodrum (Brewers).
Amelia Schimmel (A’s).
Beth Mowins (Cubs).
Jillian Geib (Rockies).
Catie Griggs (Mariners).
Angie Mentink (Mariners).
Goodrum again (Astros).
Caitlyn Callahan (Pirates).
Jaime Viera (Blue Jays).
Katie Krall (Red Sox).
Jasmine Dunston (White Sox).
Accomplished women have broken the coaching/executive glass ceiling in basketball too.
In no particular order:
Nancy Lieberman, Kara Lawson, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Allison Feaster, Becky Hammon, Jenny Boucek, Lindsay Harding, Kristi Tolliver, Teresa Weatherspoon, Stephanie Ready…
Hockey?
Think Kate Madigan, Meghan Hunter, Hayley Wickenheiser, Cammi Granato, Emilie Castonguay…
And now, meet Danielle Marmer.
The first female on-ice coach in the storied 99-year history of the Boston Bruins.
As a college player at Quinnipiac (132 games; 2013-’17) she nearly hung up her skates about halfway through.
Dwindling minutes; no clear or defined role; diminishing love for the game.
The rink was not where she wanted to be.
Enter Cassie Turner, then QU’s associate head coach and the head coach since 2014-’15.
She asked Marmer–a defensive-minded forward– what she wanted from the program and for herself.
And vowed to help her to wring out the last drop of her potential.
Boom!
Bingo!
Done!
The joy returned.
“Her biggest impact was behind the scenes and how she navigated creating a phenomenal team environment,” Turner explained.
“She understood that there were other people feeling the way she felt, and so she really found a way to create an inclusive environment and pass it forward.
When I reflect on what she did as a leader, it lasted and continued to ripple through our team for years to come.”
Marmer’s contributions may not have appeared in the stat sheet nightly.
But they were all over the place, everywhere else.
A grinder.
A leader.
A quintessential teammate, the best kind.
Humble.
Team first, above all.
After serving in a player development role specifically designed for her on Turner’s staff, Marmer was looking to build her resume.
Turner, her mentor, spotted an available internship within the Bruins scouting department.
Marmer so excelled in the role, that a full-time position was created for her in the summer of 2022.
The Vermont native, who grew up rooting for the Bruins, would become the team’s new player development and scouting assistant.
The first time the Original-Six organization had hired a woman to work in an on-ice capacity.
Film study.
In-person scouting assignments.
On-ice drill work.
She’s one of six women working in player development across the league, according to the NHL.
There are more than 100 women working in hockey operations today, including six assistant GMs.
Here it is:
Give everybody a chance.
A real chance.
And may the best woman–or man–win.
In sports.
But more importantly, in life.
[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in March 2023.]
