In a major move to close the leadership gap in professional and collegiate athletics, the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets announced a $250,000 grant to the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) Wednesday. The announcement, timed for National Girls & Women in Sports Day, aims to directly accelerate the careers of women coaching in football and across the NCAA.
Directed by Jets Chairman Woody Johnson, the funding targets the “coaching pipeline,” providing the financial backing and mentorship necessary for women to transition from the sidelines to head coaching and scouting roles.
The grant will be split between two critical Women’s Sports Foundation initiatives:
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The Scott Pioli & Family Fund: Specifically focused on women football coaches and scouts, helping them break into a traditionally male-dominated sport.
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The Tara VanDerveer Fund: Named after the legendary basketball coach, this fund helps collegiate athletic departments hire and adequately pay female coaches in entry-level positions.
This investment follows a massive $1 million commitment made in late 2025 to launch the Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League, the largest collegiate league of its kind in the U.S., set to kick off in March 2026.
Despite the massive growth in women’s sports participation, the leadership ranks have not kept pace. Data from the WSF and NCAA research highlight a significant disparity in who is leading these teams.
| Leadership Level | Current Representation (approx.) |
| NCAA Women’s Teams (Head Coaches) | < 40% |
| NCAA Women’s Teams (Assistant Coaches) | < 30% |
| Professional Football (Coaching/Scouting) | < 5% |
“When we invest in women in sport, we expand opportunity, leadership, and long-term impact,” Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation said. “We are grateful for this support to strengthen the coaching pipeline and expand opportunities for women leaders.”
The grant honors the legacy of the late Betty Wold Johnson, the longtime matriarch of the Johnson family known for her extensive philanthropy in New Jersey. Her son, Woody Johnson, noted that this partnership was a “natural next step” following their investments in women’s flag football.
“Providing accessibility and support to our students and athletes is essential to our mission,” Johnson said. “Both investments support female athletes and coaches and create more opportunities for future leaders in sport.”
