On March 16, former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Cardinals assistant coach Jen Welter arrived in Los Angeles, ready to start the next chapter of her life.
That same day, county buildings were shuttered and three days later, California Gov. Gavin ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥om issued a strict stay-at-home order to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“I bought a house in L.A. right before the world shut down,†Welter said. “I was driving across country and I got into L.A. the day L.A. closed down, and then my furniture was stuck in what I like to call ‘coronavirus purgatory’ for about 40 days.â€
For that 40 days, Welter wasn’t allowed to leave her house without a mask and had to try to sustain a career that relied on in-person events with little more than a table and chair to work with.
“It’s so easy to look at the loss,†Welter told a digital audience during a Women in Sports and Events webinar earlier this month. “This hit me right in Women’s History Month, which is one of my busiest months as a speaker and personality.â€
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Welter said that it would have been easy to look at the situation and consider herself beaten, but that’s not the path she chose.
“I pushed myself to do what I’ve always done and be somebody who’s innovative,†Welter, 42, said, adding that all of her resilience comes from her time in sports.
Welter played rugby while attending Boston College, and went on to receive a master’s in sports psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology.

Jen Welter (left,) the NFL’s first female coaching intern, was interviewed by Diamondbacks in-game host and Phoenix newsperson Vanessa Ramirez earlier this month for web event hosted by Women in Sports and Events’ ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ chapter.
A veteran of several women’s semi-pro and professional football teams, Welter played defense for the Massachusetts Mutiny, Dallas Dragons and Dallas Diamonds and was a gold medal-winning member of Team USA at the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championships in 2010 and 2013.
In February 2014, Welter made history as the first running back signed to a men’s professional football league (Champions Indoor Football), when she was added to the Texas Revolution’s roster. She also became only the second woman to play a position other than holder or kicker on a men’s pro team.
A year later, she made history again when the Revolution hired her as a linebackers and special teams coach, becoming the first woman to coach in a men’s professional football league.
Welter’s time coaching with the Revolution was short-lived though, as she was hired by the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Cardinals in July 2015 as an assistant coaching intern for the preseason, making her the first female coach in the NFL. Her internship ran through the Cardinals’ third preseason game, roughly two months after it began.
In 2018, Welter was hired as defensive specialist for the Atlanta Legends, part of the newly formed Alliance of American Football, which only lasted for a single season before filing for bankruptcy in April 2019.
So by the time coronavirus hit and Welter arrived in LA, she was well-acquainted with how to get by.
“Being a female athlete is a full-time hustle,†Welter said. “You’ve got to have like 47 jobs.â€

Jen Welter says a key to her coaching success is getting to know players as human beings, which is the foundation to a positive relationship.
A certified aerobics instructor since she was 18 years old and spin instructor since college, Welter started teaching classes for other people which forced her to stay active herself.
She also returned to her roots and put her psychology degree to use.
“It’s been a real time to get laser-focused on what’s important, so I’ve done a lot of counseling and getting on the phone and really putting my doctor hat on,†Welter said.
And when all of that still didn’t feel like enough, Welter channeled her stress and anxiety over the current situation into a new gig, and started writing children’s books.
“It’s all about finding the way that any one of us can turn the needle,†Welter said. “Sometimes we get lost when it’s just us, but when there’s something bigger we can be a part of or when we can help someone else, it gives us a boost.â€
Welter created the world of and a character named Bizzy Bee to help teach kids the importance of physical activity. A second character, Lady Bug, helps them understand the emotional factor. In total, she’s written eight books, with the first three available to download for free on the Caribu app. Welter said she moved to Los Angeles in order to pursue creative opportunities in writing, television and film, and has signed on as executive producer for an upcoming series called “FanGirl,†about two best friends who become the first-ever female assistant coaches for the Michigan Wolverines.
But Welter isn’t a first-time author. Her book, “Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL†was released in 2017, a year before Welter started Gridiron Girls, a flag football camp for girls and young women, that allows her to stay active in football, hand-picking her coaches and mentoring the campers. Welter said that a vital part of her success in coaching came from a piece of advice given to her by former Cowboys, Packers and Patriots wide receiver Terry Glenn, with whom she worked coaching indoor football.

FILE — In this Aug. 22, 2015, file photo, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Cardinals training camp coach Jen Welter watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers in Glendale, Ariz. Praising the coaches and players for accepting her without reservation, Jen Welker is proud she’s opened another door for women in men’s professional sports as the first female coach of any kind on an NFL team. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
One of the few people who knew about Welter’s internship with the Cardinals before she arrived in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Glenn told her that she should be 100% authentic in her dealings with teammates and coworkers.
Glenn explained that if she were the same person in the NFL that she was in indoor football, the guys would love her, but if she was even the least bit fake, they’d sense it and eat her alive.
“That means not everybody will like everything you have to say, but they’ll respect that you’re consistent in how you move,†Welter said, adding that remaining authentic has been the secret to her success. “At any point when I was unsure of what to do or how to act, I just went back to being authentic.â€
Another key to her success has been learning that listening is a key component to effective leadership, and that getting to know players as human beings is the foundation to a positive relationship.
“You will 100% not get the X’s and O’s if your mind is at home. Good leaders are tapped into their people enough to see and recognize changes in persona, and then be able to address them so that hopefully you can move forward,†Welter said. “When someone trusts you enough to let you into their real life, they’ll definitely listen about technique.â€
Years later, Cardinals players still talk about the different approach Welter took to coaching, including the encouraging notes she would leave in their lockers. She shared a special bond with linebacker Kevin Minter, who told her before she left the team that the things she said and what she did for them meant more than they could express.
Before her last game with the Cardinals, she was looking to buy a gift to let them know how special her time with the team was.

In this April 18, 2018, photo, from left, Caiti Donovan, executive director of SheIS; Brenda Andress, commissioner of Canadian Women’s Hockey League; Lisa Borders, President of WNBA; Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive for the US Tennis Association and Dr. Jen Welter, first female NFL coach, all meet to speak with sponsors, investors and other commissioners of leagues in New York. Women’s sports leagues are banding together for the first time with a new initiative _ SheIS. (AP Photo/Doug Feinberg)
In her initial press conference with the Cardinals, Welter said that the most she ever got paid to play football was $1 per game, but that her professionalism was not determined by the price someone paid for her.
“I went and I got singles, and I wrote on each one their name ... and said ‘Play Priceless’ and I signed them,†Welter said. “So I gave a dollar bill to millionaires. When you learn how to play free and you learn that your worth isn’t defined by what someone can pay you to do, then you really get to the point that you’re priceless.â€
Years later, she still hears from players that they kept her notes and dollar bills, which Welter says means the world.
Last year, she was able to reunite with Minter at a Buccaneers game.
“As soon as he saw me he bolted over and gave me the biggest hug,†Welter said. “Those are the bonds that you make for a lifetime that I like to say is way beyond the X’s and O’s.â€
Spring Stars: Some of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s best high school athletes, 2019-2020
Rachael Fox

Sahuarita High School senior Rachael Fox, posing for a photo, April 18, 2020, Sahuarita, Ariz. She maintained a winning record for all four years of high school. Before school and sports were cancelled in March, Fox was the Mustangs' top player with an undefeated record.
Dakota Crabtree

Academy of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Dakota Crabtree, posing for a photo, April 16, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., In four years at AOT, 18-year-old Crabtree has managed to break several school records, starting with the long jump. He set the school record one during the opening meet of his sophomore season, and has gone onto break it every year since.
Leo and Ivan Villa

Leo Villa, left, and twin brother Ivan, senior baseball players at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita. Ivan Villa is hoping to attend the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ next year and major in civil engineering. Leo hopes to major in architectural engineering, academics could win out when it comes time to make the choice.
Isabel Cordova

Track and Field senior at Empire High school Isabel Cordova poses for a portrait at Empire High School, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. Last year, she took second place in state for javelin (her favorite event) with a throwing distance of nearly 115 feet.
Refugio "Kito" Del Cid

Baseball senior at Desert View High school Refugio "Kito" Del Cid poses for a portrait at Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. With the quarantine in effect, Del Cid's been pitching and hitting ground balls against the wall in his back yard in an effort to stay in playing shape and keep baseball alive in his life. He says his teammates and this season– even in its shortened state– were his favorite part of high school.
Cheyenne Hudson and Laneya Wright

Marana softball players Cheyenne Hudson (pitcher and shortstop) and Laneya Wright (centerfielder) stand for a portrait at Marana Heritage River Park, on April 24, 2020. Laneya Wright and Cheyenne Hudson started playing softball on the same club team a decade ago as little girls, growing up together on the fields.
Ethan Lee

Rincon/University High School junior tennis player Ethan Lee on April 26, 2020. A member of Rincon's tennis team for the past three years, Lee was state champion last year for men's singles, after taking the runner-up spot his freshman year. Always one for a challenge, Lee was considering pursuing a state championship in doubles tennis this spring, before the season was cut short.
Kaitlyn Rendon

Flowing Wells High School junior Kaitlyn Rendon at Jacobs Park in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 26, 2020. Rendon plays on FWHS's soccer, track and field and cross country teams as well as on FWHS ROTC rifle team. She has a 3.9 unweighted GPA and is ranked 10th in her class. She's also president of her school's Interact Club, and a member of several others, including National Honor Society.
Preston Gibbons

Mountain View High School senior volleyball outside hitter Preston Gibbons on May 1, 2020. Gibbons is ranked seventh in his class at Mountain View and will be attending the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the fall.
Alyssa Lopez

Canyon del Oro High School senior Alyssa Lopez, shown on April 29, 2020, was the school's No.1 tennis player. Several months ago, Lopez started working as a gymnastics coach for kids at Heart and Soul Gymnastics. While the gym is closed because of COVID-19, Lopez has been creating at-home workout videos for the kids.
Kristiana Watson

Amphitheater High School senior Kristiana Watson says the things she misses most about the season cancellation are losing a chance to play with her cousin and her final year of being coached by her mother on the Panthers’ softball team.
Jesse Avina

Sierra Vista Buena High School javelin thrower Jesse Avina is planning to join the Air Force after he earns his four-year degree. He’ll start this fall by enrolling at Paradise Valley Community College. He will be on the Paradise Valley track and field team.
Amya Legarra

Canyon del Oro senior pitcher Amya Legarra was 8-0 with a 2.39 ERA and three complete games when the season was halted. She plans to move to Logan, Utah, this summer, and will soon be majoring in human movement science and playing softball for Utah State University.
Candice Pocase

Santa Rita High School junior track athlete Candice Pocase on April 24, 2020. "In my 20 years of coaching, Candice is one of the most hardworking, dedicated, coachable and fun athletes that I have had the honor to coach," said Luis Blanco, who is also Pocase's track coach. "The words 'no' and 'can't' are not in her athletic vocabulary.
Emily Flowers

Emily Flowers, a sophomore at Catalina Foothills High School, won a state championship last year and hopes to play at a Division I school someday. Before the coronavirus hit, Flowers was training six days a week at the Smith-Perry Tennis Academy and an academy run by UA tennis coaches. She’s trying to ensure that her game is impacted as little as possible by the change in routine.
Briana Garcilazo

Briana Garcilazo, a senior at Rio Rico High School. Softball is something of a family tradition, as both of her sisters also play. Garcilazo, a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder on Rio Rico’s team, will be continuing her career in college, signing on to play with Mesa Community College next year.
Leo Felix

Leo Felix, senior at Douglas High School, poses for a portrait at 15th Street Park, E. 15th st., in Douglas, Ariz., on May 5, 2020. Felix, outfielder for the Douglas High School Baseball team, is graduating in the top 10% of his class and plans to continue his baseball career in college. "I'm definitely going to try to play somewhere, and I'm going to continue my studies in college," said Felix, adding that he plans to major in business.
Abigail Russell

Salpointe Catholic’s Abigail Russell will next compete for the UA beach volleyball team. She also played the indoor version for the Lancers. When Russell was 10, she discovered volleyball and fell in love. Her brief flirtation with track, dancing and everything else was over.
061321-tuc-spt-springstars-p4

Emmanuel Corral, 18, is looking forward to running for Pima College in the fall.
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage

Softball player Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage poses for a portrait at Salpointe Catholic High School on May 7, 2020. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 2019 All State Catcher and Defensive Player of the Year, Aguilar-Beaucage plans to continue her softball career at Grand Canyon University like her older sister.
Ryan Zuniga

Ryan Zuniga is hoping to follow his cousin’s footsteps and earn a college scholarship. Keith Zuniga played at Bethune-Cookman and was a 35th-round selection of the Miami Marlins, though he did not sign.
Shelby Thompson

Softball player Shelby Thompson of Ironwood Ridge High School on May 12, 2020.Â
"Shelby... took giant steps from a freshman year, when she pitched less than 10 innings, to her senior year when was expecting to pitch in her third straight State Championship game," said softball coach David Martinez. "Shelby worked extremely hard on improving her whole person, from her mental toughness to her physical strength. Shelby is our leader and has been incredible in that role."
Gabrianna Gonzalez

Gabrianna Gonzalez, 18, is a discus thrower on the track and field team at Cholla High School. She plans to attend the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the Fall. May 14, 2020.Â
Gonzalez is one of Cholla's few three-sport female athletes. She also competed in volleyball and basketball.
Of the three sports, track is her favorite. So much so that she passed up on the opportunity to graduate early in order to make a run at state.
061321-tuc-spt-springstars-p7

Former Sabino High School standout Sydney Gray played at Nebraska as a true freshman before suffering a knee injury that required surgery. She has been rehabbing daily ever since.
Bryan Cruz

Bryan Cruz joined the Amphitheater High School volleyball team in 2018 after moving back to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from Cucurpe, Sonora.
“First and foremost, he is a true student-athlete,†said Amphi volleyball coach Mike Frederick, who believes Cruz is one of the best volleyball players in the region. “He may be the most underappreciated player in the city. … But to us, he is everything. Not only is he our leader on the court but off the court as well.â€
Angel Addleman

Senior basketball and track and field athlete Angel Addleman at Palo Verde High School, 1302 S. Avenida Vega, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on May 19, 2020. Addleman will play basketball at Pima Community College.
With the track season halted early and Addleman's brief musical career behind her — she spent two years performing in the folk group Copper Wren with her sisters and some friends — Addleman found herself with some time to fill during the quarantine. But unlike some athletes who require specialty equipment or teammates to train, Addleman was able to wing it.
Blaise Biringer

Blaise Biringer, 18, on the softball field at Cienega High School on May 11, 2020. Biringer plans to attend the University of Mississippi on a softball scholarship.
Prior to the shutdown, Biringer was selected to play for the Mexican National team this summer in the inaugural Triple Crown International Challenge. She was also selected by Premier Gold Fastpitch to represent the Mountain Region as an All-American (on a roster that includes fellow Spring Stars Anjolle Aguilar-Beaucage, Sydney Gray, Amya Legarra, Carlie Scupin and Kristiana Watson.)
Cameron Fimbres

Cameron Fimbres, Pueblo High School senior volleyball player, at Silverbell Crossroads Park, on May 15, 2020. Fimbres will be going to McKendree University in southern Illinois.
"My favorite memory of high school would have to be volleyball," Fimbres said. "It's either my escape from stress and stuff or where I could show off to friends, but sophomore year was also very fun. I got to play with my brother before he graduated and it was probably my team's best year."
Gerardo Grijalva

Gerardo Grijalva, 17, plays pitcher and first base for the Sunnyside High School baseball team. He will be returning to Sunnyside in the Fall as a senior.
While Grijalva would love to play college in baseball after he graduates, preferably at University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ or UCLA, he's also focused on his future career as a robotic engineer.
"I heard that robotic engineering has a lot of math in it, and most people don’t like math, but that’s one of my best subjects in school," Grijalva said. "Right now, really don’t have an idea of where I might go, but I for sure know that I really want to play baseball in college at the next level."