Women in Coaching: Michelle Dean

Continuing our Women in Coaching series (created in partnership with UK Coaching to tackle the decline in female coaches across the UK) we turn the spotlight to Michelle Dean.

Michelle, 44, is a coach from Bradford who first discovered her love for coaching while volunteering at her local boxing gym. Seven years on, she has seen first-hand the powerful impact coaching can have and is passionate about encouraging more women to get involved and give coaching a go.

Michelle’s journey started when she was looking for a role in sport and found The Lion Gym in Bradford. As soon as Michelle became involved, she quickly became engaged with and enthusiastic about the sport, despite having limited experience.

That enthusiasm has never left, and she continues to coach at The Lion Gym with the same energy she brought on her first day. Along the way, Michelle has seen her confidence grow, both inside and outside the gym.

She helps youngsters who enter the gym feeling shy leave full of confidence, and the impact on her is just as significant, she says: “It’s made me want to learn more outside of boxing, I’m more confident with my family and friends now, and it’s given me the belief to push myself forward.”

Boxing has long been seen as a male-dominated sport, and when Michelle first started securing her qualifications, she was often the only female on the course. This, however, didn’t faze her, she explains: “I attended my Level Two qualification, and I was the only female on the course, but I didn’t feel like it was them against me. It was a case of ‘I’m a coach and I’m there as a coach’.”

Female boxing coaches are continuing to transform lives throughout their communities, through mentorship, support, and personal growth showing how coaching can act as a catalyst for wider social impact. This can be through helping to improve mental health, build confidence, and create safe spaces where people can grow and develop.

Michelle first got involved to help people grow, and that remains one of her biggest motivations, she admits: “Seeing people grow is what keeps me involved, I want them to learn things and win, but I also want them to gain things they can take into the future.”

New data from UK Coaching’s Coaching in the UK Report revealed a concerning decline in the number of female coaches across all levels, from 44% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, despite women making up 51% of the UK population.

In response, UK Coaching is developing a Gender Impact Strategy to create inclusive and diverse coaching environments, promote equity, and drive systemic change.

Michelle therefore hopes other women around the country can follow in her footsteps and experience the same joy and passion she has found, she says: “I think sometimes you just need to go for it. You’re not going to know if it’s not for you until you try it.

“Every coach is really supportive. The female section is growing, and because of that, they need female coaches to help people feel like they belong.”