photo by: Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers is pictured before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019.

Kansas native Katie Sowers, who made history in 2020 by becoming the first female to coach in a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, has been hired to join the Ottawa University athletic department, the school announced this week.

Sowers will serve as OU’s Director of Athletic Strategic Initiatives while also continuing to work as the defensive coordinator and director of operations for Ottawa’s women’s flag football team, which won the 2021 NAIA national championship.

“Coach Sowers’ addition, along with her visionary leadership, will immediately impact our athletic programs positively,” OU Athletic Director Arabie Conner said in a news release announcing the hire. “We have, for a long time, sought to elevate our ability to reach and provide opportunities to various underserved populations, and especially the continued growth and development of women in sport. Ottawa University has needed someone of Coach Sowers’ caliber and we see her and her trademark dynamism impacting areas of diversity, equity and inclusion in sport, resource development and outreach beyond the bounds of our own institution and campus community.”

According to the release, Sowers’ role at Ottawa will be to continue to lead the growth efforts of female intercollegiate sports while assisting in fundraising and development efforts.

The opportunity spoke to Sowers, who, last summer, served on the coaching staff of the Kansas City Chiefs through the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship.

“I am excited to join forces with such a great university that shares my same vision for growing the game of not only women’s flag football, but for creating a platform that strongly advocates for leveling the playing field for all,” Sowers said in the release. “I’m looking forward to continuing to use my platform to put myself at the forefront of this initiative at such an opportune and surreal time for women in sport, while dedicating my time and energy to positively impacting all of Braves athletics.”

Before arriving at Ottawa, Sowers was an offensive assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2021. Prior to her time with the 49ers, Sowers was a wide receivers’ coaching intern with the Atlanta Falcons.

A native of Hesston, Sowers played football in the Women’s Football Alliance for the West Michigan Mayhem and the Kansas City Titans. In 2013, she was selected to play on the USA Women’s National Football team, which won the IFAF World Championship.