Alyssa Muir, Staff Writer
10/7/2022
For years, football has been dominated by men—both on the sidelines and behind-the-scenes. That’s far from the case at Maryland.
Abir Chaudhry, Annie Peppard and Abby Gorun are blazing trails for women in sports while also running the daily ins and outs of Maryland football. Chaudhry serves as the director of football operations, Peppard as the associate director of football operations and Gorun as the administrative assistant to the head coach.
“We have so much trust in each other and we have each other’s backs at all points,” Peppard said. “If something comes up, we know one of us will step up to help the other out.”
Chaudhry, a Maryland alum, worked her way from being a student assistant on the sports medicine staff that would give players water during their breaks to her current role where she serves as just one of four female directors of football operations among Power Five schools.
Peppard has been at Maryland since 2011 where she began as the executive assistant to the head coach. Gorun has worked her way from being a student assistant on the operations team to now being Head Coach Michael Locksley’s full-time assistant.
“The A-Team is critical to the success of our program,” said Locksley. "Our players and staff work with these women on a daily basis and have a ton of respect for them. Most people don’t realize what all goes on behind-the-scenes with a program so it’s great to shine a light on their roles and how what they do makes our day-to-day operation successful.
The ladies, dubbed the A-team by Locksley, have formed a close bond both personally and professionally.
“We’re here all the time so it was just natural for us to become friends,” Gorun said. “And now here we are—the A-team.”
“(Our relationship) is based in growth and learning from one another,” Chaudhry added. “I think we do that every single day and we have such a close relationship because we have learned from each other for so long.”
These lessons that we’re teaching them now that they never knew, it’s going to help them in the future at some point in their lives.Abir Chaudhry
The fact that the three women previously worked in similar duties as one another strengthens their working relationships and trust even further.
For instance, because Peppard used to be the head coach’s assistant, she knew that Gorun was the right choice for the role.
“When the job became available, I told Locksley you can’t hire anyone else because there’s no one else who knows how to do it as well as Abby,” Peppard said.
Similarly, Peppard’s longevity around the program has influenced the other women in their own positions.
“Had I not seen Annie’s growth in the field, I wouldn’t have known I could come back here and grow myself,” Chaudhry said.
“Every single person in this building trusts Annie with her life,” Gorun added. "She’s been here the longest, she knows this program and this school like the back of her hand and we all look to her because of that.”
The trio has unintentionally become inspirations for other young women in sports.
“We didn’t really realize our impact until we started talking to other people who were inspired by us,” Chaudhry said.
“During my time here, I’ve seen the growth for women not just in sports but in football specifically,” Peppard added. “When I first started, you didn’t see women represented especially in football operations. You didn’t see them in the day-to-day football operations like you do now.”
The ladies have several interns, many of whom are female, and they pride themselves on putting the interns in positions of power and letting them experiment with different roles.
The three women are hopeful that when young girls not only see them, but also their other female interns (several of which coincidentally also have names beginning with the letter A), they will continue to believe there is a place for them in sports.
“I hope the work we’re doing here continues to inspire others who are hoping to take this path and that they feel good that there is actually a path for young girls in athletics,” Peppard said.
All three are firm, however—their work speaks much louder than their gender.
“We’re not leaning on the fact that we’re women, we’re just really good at what we do,” Chaudhry stated matter-of-factly.
The trio runs the daily scheduling and travel planning for Locksley and the team. Most significantly for them, however, they work with the players on life skills.
“I wouldn’t have lasted long in this position if I didn’t have a passion and love for the student-athletes,” Peppard said. “The reason why we go to work every single day is for them and to watch them grow.”
“These lessons that we’re teaching them now that they never knew, it’s going to help them in the future at some point in their lives,” Chaudhry added. “The coaches do the football part, but we’re the ones reminding them to pay their bills on time. I do get a great sense of pride in helping the players.”
Those lessons have helped result in big wins such as the women witnessing several former Terps get married and have kids of their own, as well as small wins such as everyday manners.
“My favorite compliment is ‘The guys dress so well, they’re so polite, they all say hello and thank you,’” Chaudhry said. “That’s how I know we’re making a difference.”
During my time here, I’ve seen the growth for women not just in sports but in football specifically. When I first started, you didn’t see women represented especially in football operations. You didn’t see them in the day-to-day football operations like you do now.Annie Peppard
Similarly, it’s moments such as taking the team on trips to new areas during the Pinstripe Bowl and the Foster Farm Bowl or letting the players into the brand-new Jones-Hill House for the first time that really leave their mark on the women.
“All of our favorite memories source from when the kids are happy and just from seeing their smiles,” Chaudhry said.
The A-Team, with a strong reputation for their on-point fashion, prides themselves on doing everything to the max every day.
“We dress the part, we look the part, we act the part,” Chaudhry said. “There’s no part of us presented outwardly that is not what we do inwardly. I go to bed each night knowing that we all gave 1,000 percent and no one can ever take that away from us.”
That 1,000 percent effort is recognized by those inside the program every day, but this weekend it will be lauded by all of Terp nation. When Maryland takes the field Saturday to face Purdue, the program will also be observing its Fearless Women game in honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
Deservedly so, the A-Team will be at the top of those celebrations for all the work these three fearless women do behind-the-scenes to keep the program running at full force.
