Kevin Maxine of the Jaguars became the first publicly mentioned coach in a major men’s professional sports in the United States

Jacksonville Jaguars co-strength coach Kevin Maxine has come out publicly at Interview with Sports Thursday.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxine said. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I see, or why I’m living with someone else. I want to be outspoken to support people who are living how they want to live, but I also want to just live and not be intimidated about how people will react.”

Maxine, according to Outsports, is believed to be the first publicly mentioned coach in American men’s professional sports. Several female NFL coaches — including 49ers’ assistant Katie Sawyers, who became the league’s first openly gay coach in 2017 — have come out in recent years.

Marcus Pollard, Jaguars Director of Player Development told Outsports, “In such a diverse environment, it’s an honor to work alongside the hard-working, dedicated and thriving Kevin as the strength and conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

Maxine was a strength coach prior to Jacksonville with the Baylor and Vanderbilt football teams. He played linebacker at Western Connecticut State University, Division III program.

“It wasn’t until recently — and with the tremendous love and support of my family, friends, colleagues, colleagues, and the courage and sacrifice of my partner — that I realized I had the right and responsibility to love and be loved, and that perhaps sharing this would give another person the strength to accept their own life and control of their own story,” Maxine said.

(Photo: Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)