Madeline Sulka just made history with the College Park Skyhawks, becoming their first-ever female assistant coach. What’s even more impressive? She landed this groundbreaking role with the Atlanta Hawks‘ G League team after just one year as an NBA video coordinator.
But Sulka’s got her sights set on an even bigger goal – becoming the NBA’s first female head coach.
“All basketball players can relate that you don’t always know exactly what’s next when you’re done playing,” she says. “You love the game for so long, and it’s all you know. Basketball is just part of who you are.”
It’s a dream she’s been chasing since 2017, back when she was still on the court herself.
“I never really planned on coaching,” Sulka admits. “But I was always that player others looked up to – the one teammates and coaches trusted to lead.”
Before joining the Skyhawks, Sulka spent three years as head video coordinator for the Sun Devils. It might not sound glamorous, but it’s actually one of the best ways to learn a team’s inner workings.
Just ask Erik Spoelstra. The Miami Heat‘s championship-winning coach started out exactly the same way, spending 13 years as a video coordinator before getting his shot at the top job.
So what does a video coordinator actually do?
They’re the behind-the-scenes experts who break down game footage, create detailed scouting reports, and make sure coaches have everything they need to prepare their team.
“When you’re working your way up, the more you can help make your coaches’ jobs easier, the more valuable you become,” Sulka explains.
Her former boss, Charli Turner Thorne, who’s known Sulka since she was a kid attending basketball camps, isn’t surprised by her success.
“Maddie is a stud,” Turner Thorne says. “She lights up a room when she walks in. Sure, lots of people can analyze film, but Maddie’s got that special something – she’s warm, she’s bubbly, and she just knows how to represent the program.”
With her combination of basketball smarts and natural leadership, don’t be surprised if Sulka makes history again someday as the NBA’s first female head coach.
