Publication Date

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

Advisor

Rebeca Burciaga; Liliana Castrellón; William Rodriguez

Abstract

This qualitative ethnographic study examined the experiences of one woman of color intercollegiate coach navigating her path to a head coaching position within the California Community College (CCC) system using testimonio. Drawing on interviews with the head coach, her mentor, assistant coach, and a former athlete supported by ethnographic fieldnotes, the study analyzed her experiences through Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Epistemology, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, and a newly articulated Indigenous Feminist Epistemology centered on relational accountability, embodied knowledge, ancestral grounding, and community responsibility. Findings show that her coaching developed within institutional structures not designed for women of color. She navigated a coaching pipeline shaped by whiteness and masculinity while carrying invisible emotional, academic, and cultural labor. Despite limited mentorship, inequitable pay, and ongoing institutional pressures, she built a program grounded in mental training, cultural clarity, and enduring relational presence. This study shows how women of color sustain athletic programs through labor institutions depend on but rarely support, calling for equitable workload practices, meaningful mentorship, and institutional accountability. Keywords: testimonio, women of color coaches, California community colleges, Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Epistemology, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, Indigenous Feminist Epistemology.

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