Janice Pettyjohn Becomes the First Woman Hired Full-Time on Howard University’s Football Team

Janice Pettyjohn has made history as the first woman hired to a full-time position with Howard University’s football program, HBCU Gameday reports.

The New Jersey native is director of on-campus recruiting and assistant director of football operations. Her job entails running operations such as maintenance of the football facilities and assisting with the coordination for events.

“I’m 22, about to be 23, doing what some 30 years old’s are just getting started doing,” Pettyjohn said in an interview with the Burlington County Times. “You’re finding coaches on my staff who have coached in the NFL, who have played in the NFL. Coaches, who I’m not going to necessarily say ages, but they’re over the age of 40 and 50, who have been in this game for quite some time.”

Ironically, I’ve always been an artsy girl,” she said. “So, painting, art, I still do to this day—that’s what my hobbies are.”

Due to health issues, Pettyjohn could no longer be physically active in sports, so she channeled her love for athletics into organizational skills.

“I started managing the basketball team in seventh grade, then I did it in eighth grade. And it ended up just becoming something that I loved without realizing that I love because it just became second nature,” she continued.

After enrolling at Howard, Pettyjohn was offered an undergraduate position as a graphic designer and equipment manager.

“And then from there, my name just kind of started floating around,” she recalled. “And next thing I know, I’m working with operations, I’m working with the color commentating people on the radio, I’m working with the (sports information) department. I was always the kind of person with that mentality like ‘if it has to get done, I’m going to be the one that gets it done.’”

Pettyjohn graduated from Howard’s Sports Medicine Residency program with a minor in sociology. Howard University’s Football Coach Larry Scott offered her a full-time position with the team.

“I’m super grateful for this position,” she said. “Being 22 years old and getting a full-time position at Howard, fresh out of college—it’s rare. Coach Scott really saw the potential in me,” she said.

Janice Pettyjohn credits her success to her mentors and co-workers at Howard who have taken her under their wings to guide her and provide her opportunities.

“Two of our associate AD’s will literally just call me sometimes to say you’re doing a great job,” Pettyjohn said. “Our academic advisors will just call me and say you’re doing it. And my coaches tell me all the time. So even when I don’t feel it, if I don’t give myself the credit, there’s always someone else there in my ear.”