Women in Coaching Series: Michelle’s Knockout Journey from Engineer to Coach
Inspiring Story by UK Coaching
As part of UK Coaching’s commitment to addressing a drop in the number of female coaches in the UK, we have partnered with England Boxing to tell the inspirational coaching stories of six female boxing coaches who have recently completed qualifications
First up in our Women in Coaching series is Michelle Nelson, a 41-year-old boxing gym owner from Luton. Michelle has transformed the sport locally, helping young boxers grow in a deprived area, whilst also supporting them in finding purpose and direction in life.
Michelle’s background is in aeronautical engineering but she made the bold decision to switch paths and pursue a career as a boxing coach. First, the aim was to lose weight and get in shape, but after loving her first session, she turned to coaching. Eight years into her journey, and she is now a driving force in her community.
Last year, she took her career a step further and started her own boxing gym, Bellator Boxing Academy in Luton. Despite encountering challenges, Michelle has found it incredibly fulfilling.
She explains: “What pushed me was the drive to make a difference and help young people break free from the cycle [of crime]. I'm based in one of the tougher areas of Luton, but that makes it even more fulfilling. They could be anywhere else doing anything, but we've created that safe space for them.
If you create a family, you create that safe space.”
Boxing can play a powerful role in transforming underprivileged communities, and Michelle has seen that impact first-hand since stepping into coaching.
She added: “I use boxing as a tool to help young people’s mental health. I also work in schools, using the sport to reach vulnerable young people and keep them off the streets.”
When Michelle first started coaching, entering a stereotypically male-dominated sport was daunting. New data from UK Coaching’s Coaching in the UK Report revealed a decline in the number of female coaches across all levels – from 44% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, despite women making up 51% of the UK population.
Coming from an engineering background, Michelle was used to male-dominated fields, but she admits she had a lot of different experiences – positive and negative – when she first stepped into the ring as a coach.
“I was very excited. It was boxing, so it didn't really matter what was heading my way, I was going to make it work. But there were challenges that I came across because it is true that it remains a very male-dominated sport.”
In response to these concerning figures, UK Coaching is developing a Gender Impact Strategy, designed to create inclusive and diverse coaching environments, promote equity, and drive systemic change.
Michelle hopes that more women can follow in her footsteps, reaping the benefits of what being a coach can bring. Her advice is simple: go for it.
My advice would be to focus on your purpose and passion. It drives me so much. If your passion is to impact the community, hold on to that, because that will push you through the hard days. It’s really important to find a good place that’s good for you.”
UK Coaching is committed to reversing the decline in female coaches and is continuing to work with partners on further research to develop a deeper understanding of the reasons for the drop-off. We’re also dedicated to celebrating inspiring coaching stories from every sport, at every level, to shine a light on the unsung heroes who are building stronger clubs, communities, and futures.
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