Jaguars Power Coach Kevin Maxen declares he is homosexual – first male coach in main US males’s professional sports activities to come back out: ‘I do not need to really feel like I’ve to lie’

Kevin Maxen, an affiliate power coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has made historical past by turning into the primary male coach in a significant American males’s sport to come back out as homosexual.

Maxen got here out in an interview with the SBNation website OutSports – detailing that he has been in a relationship along with his boyfriend, Nick, for about two-and-a-half years. 

‘I do not need to really feel like I’ve to consider it anymore,’ Maxen instructed Outsports. ‘I do not need to really feel like I’ve to lie about who I’m seeing, or why I’m dwelling with another person.

‘I need to be vocal in help of individuals dwelling how they need to reside, however I additionally need to simply reside and never really feel concern about how individuals will react.’

It is believed that Maxen is the primary coach within the 4 main American sports activities leagues – the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL – to come back out publicly. 

Kevin Maxen, an affiliate power coach with the Jaguars, has come out as homosexual

‘It wasn’t till just lately – and with the immense love and help of my household, my buddies, colleagues and friends, and the braveness and sacrifice from my companion – that I noticed I’ve the appropriate and duty to like and be cherished, and that perhaps sharing this may hopefully give another person the power to simply accept their very own life and take management of their very own story,’ Maxen mentioned.

Previous to his function on the Jaguars, he was a power coach with the soccer groups at Baylor and Vanderbilt. Earlier than then, he interned at Military and Iowa. 

Maxen performed linebacker at Division-III Western Connecticut State – the place he earned first-team defensive honors in his senior yr and was a captain for 3 seasons.

He instructed Outsports that in his time in school, he questioned his sexuality. However now within the NFL, he is hopeful anticipating the reactions of the gamers he works with.

‘I’ve a reasonably good humorousness,’ he mentioned. ‘So quite a lot of the blokes I can joke with and never take something personally.’ 

Maxen says he felt pushed to come back out now after being round others within the Jaguars group who spoke about their households and companions at workforce occasions and capabilities.

‘You will have different coaches who’ve vital others, they usually’re speaking about their vital others,’ Maxen mentioned. ‘And I felt responsible that I could not do the identical factor, that I used to be letting myself down.

‘I would like the particular person I am with to have the ability to share that with me.’

Maxen says that he is been along with his companion, Nick, for no less than two-and-a-half years

He added, ‘For some time I had such an anger for myself and hatred that I assumed was from a concern of what others may take into consideration who I’m. 

‘However that wasn’t it. It was an anger and hatred of myself as a result of I put myself in a life the place I used to be dwelling by different individuals’s guidelines and never by my very own. 

‘And I used to be proper to be indignant at myself for considering that I needed to reside within the picture of anybody else.’

When he felt that he wished to come back out, he reached out to Carl Nassib – the primary lively NFL participant to come back out as homosexual – for recommendation, which led him to Outsports.

Throughout the workforce he works for, a lot of colleagues have supported him in his popping out and sharing who he’s. 

‘In an surroundings that’s diversifying, it’s a privilege to work alongside Kevin who’s hardworking, devoted and thriving as a power and conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars,’ mentioned ex-NFL tight finish and Jaguars Director of Participant Growth Marcus Pollard.

Maxen says he was pushed to come back out after feeling like ‘I used to be dwelling by different individuals’s guidelines and never by my very own’

Now-retired NFL middle Brandon Linder mentioned, ‘Kevin was an enormous half in serving to me put together each Sunday throughout my final yr within the NFL. 

‘He would write exercises for me with workout routines that will assist with my deficiencies, which helped me be one of the best model of myself on that subject. 

‘Our friendship grew with the time spent working collectively and us sharing quite a lot of similarities on our views of life, being somebody that simply will get it. He understands what life is actually all about. That is why I gravitated in the direction of him.

‘It was really an honor and intensely humbling after I was one of many first individuals Kevin confided to about his sexuality. I am unable to think about how laborious that should have been, not realizing what my response can be. I bear in mind the day he instructed me I used to be so elated for him to get that off his chest.’