By Dana Corddry
When Elizabeth Mackay, a former Olympic diving champion, was recently named head coach of Biola University’s diving program, the announcement carried more significance than a typical coaching appointment. It spotlighted the transformative power of female leadership in sports. Mackay, whose journey spans elite athleticism, government leadership, and entrepreneurial success, embodies why the sports world must prioritize placing women in decision-making roles—not just for diversity’s sake, but for the unparalleled value they bring.
Mackay’s personal story is as compelling as her professional success. Growing up as the youngest of five siblings—and the only girl—in a family of boys, she recalls, “My dad decided that as the girl, I would be involved in activities and sports. None of my brothers were in sports, but I had the most competitive drive of all of us. I think my dad believed that being involved in athletics would give me a chance to stand out—and as a woman, an edge in my adult life.”
That drive propelled Mackay to become a five-time Canadian National Champion, an Olympian, and placing at the Commonwealth and Pan-Am Games. Along the way, she learned life lessons that now shape her as a coach and leader. For instance, she vividly remembers her 15 year old self freezing on the 10-meter platform at her first national championships in Vancouver. She’d only been diving for 2 years at the time.
“I didn’t like the dim lighting, and I froze. I got home, and my dad was so disappointed, he didn’t speak to me for a day. The next morning, I told him, ‘I’m going to quit diving so we can keep talking.’ But he said, ‘You’ll face fear in life, and you can’t quit until you’ve gone to the very end of the journey.’ After that, I never thought about quitting again.”
It’s this resilience that Mackay now passes on to her divers. “Having been an Olympic diver, I know what it feels like to be in their shoes—whether it’s freezing during outdoor practice or facing the fear of a new dive. I’ve been there, and that experience helps me guide them past those hurdles before they become obstacles.”
Her ability to connect with athletes stems, in part, from her own experiences with female coaches.
“During my diving career, I had mostly male coaches. There were definitely certain subjects we felt more comfortable discussing with women—things we wouldn’t have shared with a male coach. “Male and female coaches have different ways of conveying the same message,” Mackay says.
“Having a female presence (coach or team judge) creates a level of comfort that’s invaluable for a team. […] When I was 16, I had won a few provincial championships and maybe my success had made me over-confident. I remember a female coach from Montreal took me aside and told me in a few words, “You have the potential to be a champion, but you have to stop negotiating your workouts and do the workouts exactly as your coach has instructed – everyday and at every workout!”
My coach had probably been trying to get that message across to me (when he told me my head wouldn’t fit through the doors). His comments hadn’t registered in a way that got through to me. But six months after that female coach spoke to me directly, I won my first national championship.”
Yet, Mackay’s journey has not been without setbacks. In 1980, she faced heartbreak when the Olympic Games were boycotted, despite years of preparation. “I was demolished,” she recalls. “Instead of stopping, I kept going.” That resilience is now a cornerstone of her coaching philosophy.
This is exactly the kind of leadership women bring to sports—a blend of empathy, expertise, and vision. But Mackay’s story also highlights a glaring inequity: the underrepresentation of women in sports leadership. According to a 2022 report by the Women’s Sports Foundation, women make up only 23% of head coaches across NCAA sports, despite constituting nearly half of all college athletes.
The absence of women in leadership isn’t just a matter of representation; it’s a missed opportunity. Diverse leadership fosters more inclusive and effective decision-making, which translates to stronger programs and better athlete development. Mackay exemplifies this potential, inspiring both her athletes and the next generation of female leaders in sports.
Mackay also credits her family for shaping her perspective on challenges. After her father’s passing when she was 15, her older brother stepped into a mentorship role. “I used to struggle with perfectionism, feeling the pressure to be the best at everything. My brother taught me to take life one problem at a time.
He said, ‘If you look at all the veggies you’ll eat in your life, you’ll feel so overwhelmed you won’t take the first bite. But if you take it one at a time, they’ll become manageable.’ That lesson has stayed with me.”
To foster more stories like Mackay’s, institutions must actively break down barriers that prevent women from rising to leadership roles—addressing bias, creating mentorship opportunities, and ensuring equitable pay. They must also celebrate women’s achievements and invest in programs that prepare them for leadership.
Elizabeth Mackay’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, mentorship, and vision. By placing more women in leadership, sports will become not only more equitable but also more dynamic, impactful, and inspiring. The next generation of athletes deserves nothing less.
Dana Corddry is a social media and brand manager who lives in Houston, Texas. She works on Creative Marketing Ninja’s team of creative writers and digital marketers, and enjoys building brand strategies that introduce new products and ideas to the global market.
