About Maria

Maria spent nearly three decades on bleachers, in carpool lines, in coaches' offices, and on her knees praying she was doing it right.

She raised six children — Marcus, Diane, Jordan, Camille, Tobias, and Serena — who competed in soccer, swimming, track and field, basketball, gymnastics, and tennis. Every single one went on to compete at the collegiate or professional level.

But ask Maria what she's most proud of, and she won't mention a single medal.

"The humans they became. That's everything."

Over 28 years, Maria made every mistake a sports parent can make. She also figured out — slowly, painfully, and with plenty of apologies along the way — what actually works. The First Coach is the book she wishes someone had handed her the morning her eldest son laced up his first pair of cleats.

It is not a guide to producing recruits. It is a guide to raising whole people — who happen to love sport.