The veteran empowerment organization Got Your 6 launched a new PSA, #ShesBadass, to continue celebrating the accomplishments of women veterans.  Up2Us Sports would like to highlight a couple of the amazing female coaches who serve their communities through our Operation Coach program.  

Marnisha Mintlow
Brotherhood Crusade
Los Angeles

I am a native of Dayton, Ohio and I served four years in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, 2nd Marine Corps Aircraft Wing, Aviation Logistics Department. I was responsible for knowing the location of all the Marine Corps aircraft on the East Coast and maintaining the Technical Publication Library (TPL) where the repair manual for each aircraft was located.

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, I relocated to Virginia Beach where I graduated from Bryant & Stratton College with an Associates of Occupational Science in Business, summa cum laude, and a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a minor in Information Technology, magna cum laude.

While in Virginia Beach, I became a charter member of the Norfolk, Virginia chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), as well as being a member of the Alpha Chi Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda, Sorority, Inc. For ten years, I was an educator and a step team coach in the Hampton Roads area, teaching multiple subjects to all learners of all ages, from Pre-K students to adults.

In June 2016, I relocated from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles, California where I found Up2Us Sports and its’ Operation Coach program. I currently serve as a coach through the program at Brotherhood Crusade, a non-profit organization addressing the needs of South Los Angeles' underserved populations. I teach soccer as a means to inform children about nutrition, healthy living, life skills and being a responsible citizen in their community.

Mary Velis
Woodcraft Rangers
Los Angeles

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and this July will mark my ninth year serving with the United States Army. During my four years of active duty I was stationed in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas and was deployed to Iraq for both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Since then, I’ve served as part of the Army Reserve.

My passion and love for coaching started with volleyball while attending Huntington Park High School. My first coaching experience was as a junior in high school when my coach gave me the opportunity to be the Boys junior varsity coach. Since then, I have never stopped playing and mentoring others in the sport.

I currently serve as a youth sports coach through Up2Us Sports’ Operation Coach program, working with kids at Woodcraft Rangers, a non-profit whose programs provide after-school services for the youth across the greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, I am the Head Volleyball Coach at my alma mater, Club Director with the LAVO Reign girl’s volleyball club, Assistant Coach at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Women's Commissioner for the non-profit organization Los Angeles Volleyball, and a volleyball club leader at Woodcraft Rangers.