Jaguars’ Assistant Kevin Maxen Becomes First American Male Professional Sports Coach To Come Out

Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Maxen has become the first male in American professional sports coach to publicly come out as gay.

Maxen spoke with Outsports about his journey, noting that support from inside the organization has been critical in his decision to publicly come out and his hope to inspire others.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen said. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else. I want to be vocal in support of people living how they want to live, but I also want to just live and not feel fear about how people will react.”

Maxen has worked with the Jaguars since the 2021 season after previously interning with Iowa and Army's football programs and working for Baylor and Vanderbilt.

“It wasn’t until recently—and with the immense love and support of my family, my friends, colleagues and peers, and the courage and sacrifice from my partner—that I realized I have the right and responsibility to love and be loved, and that maybe sharing this will hopefully give someone else the strength to accept their own life and take control of their own story,” Maxen said.

“In an environment that is diversifying, it is a privilege to work alongside Kevin who is hardworking, dedicated and thriving as a strength and conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Jaguars Director of Player Development Marcus Pollard told Outsports.

Former Jaguars center Brandon Linder also spoke to Outsports about Maxen, who he worked with in Jacksonville in 2021.

“Kevin was a big part in helping me prepare every Sunday during my last year in the NFL. He would write workouts for me with exercises that would help with my deficiencies, which helped me be the best version of myself on that field. Our friendship grew with the time spent working together and us sharing a lot of similarities on our views of life, being someone that just gets it," Linder told Outsports. “He understands what life is truly all about. That’s why I gravitated towards him.

“It was truly an honor and extremely humbling when I was one of the first people Kevin confided to about his sexuality. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been, not knowing what my reaction would be. I remember the day he told me I was so elated for him to get that off his chest.”