As partner and corporate practice leader at Nixon Peabody, Todd Tidgewell leads a robust team of attorneys who help clients navigate complex transactions and the business challenges of today. In this Q&A, Todd shares how his team’s collaborative, cross-functional approach supports clients through the concerns they’re facing in an unpredictable market. He also reflects on […]
As partner and corporate practice leader at Nixon Peabody, Todd Tidgewell leads a robust team of attorneys who help clients navigate complex transactions and the business challenges of today.
In this Q&A, Todd shares how his team’s collaborative, cross-functional approach supports clients through the concerns they’re facing in an unpredictable market. He also reflects on lessons learned throughout his career, and how coaching youth sports has influenced his leadership style.
What differentiates Nixon Peabody’s Corporate practice?
Our corporate practice brings together over 100 attorneys across all Nixon Peabody offices. What sets us apart is our fully integrated approach to corporate law. We combine deal lawyers—who focus on complex transactions—with all the practices that support those deals. This includes M&A and private equity attorneys, tax and benefits attorneys, and our immigration team. By aligning these capabilities from the start, we deliver a comprehensive set of services and ensure that we operate as a cohesive team, all pulling in the same direction.
What questions are you hearing most often from clients?
Clients are always concerned about market uncertainty, and right now, there’s quite a bit of it. This uncertainty can affect their day-to-day operations, long-term strategic goals, and even their personal lives. Our role as corporate attorneys is to help them strategize, identify risks, and understand how uncertainty impacts their business. We work closely with them to navigate these challenges, helping them feel supported and confident in their decisions.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
You never really know what to expect in this career. It’s crucial to be confident, but also confident enough to ask questions, seek out education, and rely on your colleagues. And do it all while keeping a sense of humor. It’s important to stay humble, approachable, and personable. While we take our work seriously, maintaining perspective and balance is key.
Where can we usually find you when you’re not working?
I’ve been fortunate to coach my kids in a wide range of sports—from age five up to their late teens. I coach baseball and basketball, both at the competitive travel team level and in recreational leagues. So, most weekends and a few nights a week, you’ll find me on a basketball court or baseball field running around with the kids.
How It Led to Significant Decrease in Female Coaches — Grady Newsource
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Fifty-two years ago, one signature forever changed the trajectory of women’s sports. Title IX, which President Richard Nixon signed into law on June 23, 1972, was created with the goal of providing equal access and opportunities for all students, regardless of their gender. According to research conducted by Rutgers University, before Title […]
Fifty-two years ago, one signature forever changed the trajectory of women’s sports.
Title IX, which President Richard Nixon signed into law on June 23, 1972, was created with the goal of providing equal access and opportunities for all students, regardless of their gender.
According to research conducted by Rutgers University, before Title IX just 15% of college athletes were women. Now, 52 years after the law’s implementation, that number is up to 44%.
“Title IX is the reason we play today,” said Carol Hutchins, who retired from Michigan in 2022 as the winningest softball coach in NCAA history. “When somebody asks me, ‘Besides Title IX, what’s the most important thing that ever happened in women’s athletics?’ I can only tell you, ‘There is nothing.’”
Why It’s Newsworthy: Although Title IX is one of the driving forces behind the success of women’s athletics today, it also has its costs. Since the law’s implementation in 1972, the number of female head coaches leading female teams in college athletics dropped more than 55%.
A Coveted Opportunity
Prior to Title IX’s creation, coaching women’s sports was not a coveted position for males. According to research from the NCAA, the percentage of women’s teams with a female head coach in 1972 sat around 90%. Now, the number sits around 40%.
Researcher and former college athlete Meredith Flaherty said Title IX brought an aspect of “seriousness” to women’s sports, which made coaching female athletes a more desired role.
“Once the NCAA opened up to be the governing body of women’s sport, and it got integrated as a more serious space through Title IX, jobs started to proliferate that had salaries and status attached to them,” Flaherty said. “As they increased in visibility and seriousness and pay, they became a space that men could step into and benefit from.”
Title IX required schools to provide athletic financial assistance that is proportional to their participation rates, which in most cases, must reflect the ratio of the general student body.
“When that happened, things went up, resources got better [and] salaries got better,” Hutchins said. “And a lot of men realized, ‘Wow, this is a field I could coach in.’”
Marginalized Jobs, Growing Stigmas
According to Flaherty, not only are women receiving fewer leadership positions, but they are also being “pigeonholed” into roles that require “taking care of the players” as assistants. This could mean their resumes do not appear as strong as their male counterparts applying for the same head coaching positions.
“Women tend to get marginalized or pushed aside,” Flaherty said. “So even though women are getting jobs as assistant coaches in college sport, they aren’t translating to head coaching positions.”
This coupled with the stigma surrounding the ability of female head coaches — that they have less “inherent value, capability and ability” than males according to Flaherty — is not conducive for females who want to enter the coaching industry.
Because of gender bias, people view men as more knowledgeable, as better leaders than women,” Hutchins said. “And the biggest problem I have with that is that too many women view it as that.”
Hutchins shared that she heard female athletes say they would “like to play for a man,” further emphasizing the preexisting ideas surrounding male and female coaches.
“It’s like an unintended ‘ism,’ whether it’s racism, sexism, you name it,” Hutchins said. “It’s unintended because people think the way they think, and they do value men more. It’s just the way they are. And so when you bring to light the differences, it usually can be one of two things. One, it’s an ‘aha’ moment. Or two, it’s a ‘Really, now you’re complaining about this.’”
Flaherty, who is a youth sport researcher, attributed the stigma to the ideas enforced in youth sports. She said the “socialization” children experience leads them to view male sports through a more “serious” lens.
“The socialization in youth sport that happen, teaches everybody involved in sport from a very young age that the boy sport is where it’s at,” Flaherty said. “That’s what’s more serious. That’s where the opportunity is.”
While the lack of female head coaches supports a sense of skepticism around them, a child’s doubt is not limited to one gender, according to Gillen Schecter, who is the head soccer coach at Clarke Central High School.
“Kids do not just assume that you know the topic you’re teaching anymore,” Schecter said. “So you really have to prove to them that even though I may not be the best player anymore, I still know the game really well. I think you have to earn their trust.”
Up to the Athletes
So how does this preexisting idea change? According to Flaherty, it begins with organizational leadership amending its beliefs. If that does not work, a policy similar to Title IX could help drive change.
“Change occurs through legislation and people in positions of power in organizations making change that then can be seen by other organizations or other people in power and hopefully snowball,” Flaherty said. “Policy is one of the most key pieces of it because it sort of establishes what a practice baseline would be.”
In order to make a change, Hutchins believes, “the pressure needs to come from the student athletes.”
Nobody gives a damn about what coaches think,” Hutchins said. “They don’t care what we think, and if they don’t like what we say, they’ll fire us. The student athletes need to stick up for it.”
Hutchins, who now serves as Michigan’s special advisor to the athletic director, shared that reaching a “certain level of success” allowed her to fight for equality, since she had greater job security.
However, she still believes student athletes can spark a change.
“I was compelled to fight for certain equality things when I knew that they couldn’t just turn around and fire me for lack of success,” Hutchins said. “When you reach a certain status or platform, you need to use your platform, and it needs to be the people that are affected by it, and those are student athletes. Student athletes have the power in college athletics. When student athletes speak up, they listen.”
Olivia Sayer is a third-year journalism student at the University of Georgia, minoring in sport management with a sports media certificate.
Youth baseball coaches fired after streaking at upstate NY tournament
Two youth baseball coaches have been fired after they were filmed stripping naked and streaking at an upstate New York tournament for under-12s. Video circulating online shows the unidentified coaches from Lake Bluff, Illinois, stripping down under the field lights while their team was in Cooperstown for a tournament last weekend. One of the coaches, […]
Two youth baseball coaches have been fired after they were filmed stripping naked and streaking at an upstate New York tournament for under-12s.
Video circulating online shows the unidentified coaches from Lake Bluff, Illinois, stripping down under the field lights while their team was in Cooperstown for a tournament last weekend.
One of the coaches, baring it all, slides headfirst into home plate as stunned children laugh.
One coach slides into home plate in the nude, video shows. CBS News
“Oh my God!” one child exclaims, as another gasps: “What the hell?”
“Is he naked?” another kid asks.
It’s not clear what motivated the coaches to get naked for the creepy stunt.
However, their team — the Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association’s 12 and under Blue team — was disqualified and the local sheriff’s department was called in, according to CBS Chicago.
Both coaches have been fired, the youth league confirmed.
“We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and have contacted relevant authorities. We will continue to support those authorities in their investigations of this matter,” the association, from north of Chicago, said in a statement.
It’s not clear what motivated the coaches to get naked. CBS News
“We have also taken immediate and decisive action by terminating the assistant coaches involved,” the association added.
It’s unclear if the coaches were any of the players’ parents or if any legal action had been taken.
The Post has reached out to the Otsego Sheriff’s Department, which patrols Cooperstown, for additional information.
The Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jury finds former Springfield youth basketball coach guilty of multiple sex crimes involving children
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A jury found a former Springfield youth basketball coach guilty of multiple sex crimes involving children. Antwuan Looney faced two counts of child molestation and multiple counts of first-degree sodomy, first-degree rape, and statutory rape. A judge will sentence him in September. Investigators said Looney had at least five juvenile victims and […]
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A jury found a former Springfield youth basketball coach guilty of multiple sex crimes involving children.
Antwuan Looney faced two counts of child molestation and multiple counts of first-degree sodomy, first-degree rape, and statutory rape. A judge will sentence him in September.
Investigators said Looney had at least five juvenile victims and three other suspected victims. Investigators say the abuse started as early as 1995 and in some cases lasted for years. In a police report filed in 2004, a 13-year-old girl claimed that Looney was her basketball coach and he touched her inappropriately in her bedroom.
Investigators say another victim recounted several incidents where Looney raped or sexually abused her, all when she was around nine-years-old.
When he was questioned by detectives, Looney denied all of the allegations against him.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Kendall Young Library has youth events in July | News, Sports, Jobs
Throughout July, the Kendall Young Library will be hosting a number of different events and story times for all ages. Students should attend the programs based on the classes they will attend in the fall of 2025 Children’s Summer Reading Program — Patrons, birth to fifth grade, can join in a variety of “Level Up […]
Throughout July, the Kendall Young Library will be hosting a number of different events and story times for all ages. Students should attend the programs based on the classes they will attend in the fall of 2025
Children’s Summer Reading Program — Patrons, birth to fifth grade, can join in a variety of “Level Up at your Library” summer programs. There is a reading challenge, activity bingo and great programs each week. The deadline is July 31 for the reading challenge entries for the summer drawings.
Children’s Special Events — Tuesday, July 8, 5-7 p.m., Family Pool Party at the Webster City Outdoor Pool, free event for the whole family
Thursday, July 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. — Fonziba Drums (ages 8+) at Kendall Young Library
Thursday, July 17, 6:00 p.m. — Family Foam Party at Webster City Market Night — sponsored by Kendall Young Library
Children’s Weekly Programs –Wild Things 1 (PreK-K) will meet on Monday, July 7 and 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Wild Things 2 (first to second grade) will meet on Tuesday, July 1, 8 and 15 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Fuzzy Ducklings (Under 3 years) will meet on Wednesday, July 2, 9 and 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Tween’s Time (third to fifth grade) will meet on Thursday, July 3, 10 and 17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Hungry Caterpillars (preschool) will meet on Friday, July 11 and 18 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Teen Summer Reading Program–Patrons who will be in grades six to 12 this fall can join in a variety of “Level Up at your Library” summer programs. There is a 10-day reading challenge along with both scheduled and “on your own time” programs each week. Detailed information is available at the Adult Checkout Desk or in the Teen Area. Please make sure to get all entries in by July 31.
Game of the Week — Each week throughout the summer there will be a new game featured as the “Game of the Week”. Mondays from 10-11a.m. the game will be presented with the rule and an opportunity to play with friends. The game will also be available all week if you want to stop-in, try it out and vote how you liked the game.
Teen Lounge — Patrons in grades 6-12 are invited on Tuesday from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Join us weekly for video games, snacks, crafts, board games, and more.
Special crafts in the theme of “Level Up At Your Library” will be provided each week.
Teen Games — “Fun before the Sun…Thursdays” is time for games and adventures. Each Thursday from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Teens activities will include games, movies, a scavenger hunt and mini golf which will be held inside the library.
Teen Crafternoons — Kendall Young Teen area will have a Crafternoon Station throughout the summer. Each week, beginning on Wednesdays, a new craft will be presented. This activity is available whenever the library is open.
The Teen Area STEM Cart is available for the adventurous builder. There are a variety of plans and materials will be provided. Stop at the reference desk to get more information any time this summer.Community Lego Build — Students are invited to participate in building the Lego Disney Villain Icons. This project is available during all open hours of the library and it is located in the Young Adult Area.
The Teen area located in the Kendall Young Library offers a variety of board games, community Lego build, Chromebooks, video games, books and activities that are always available.
Throughout July, the Kendall Young Library will be hosting a number of different events and story times for all …
Kendall Young Library will be closed two occasions throughout the month of July.
On July 4 and 5 Kendall Young …
Kendall Young Library will be having adult programs throughout the month of July.
Adult Summer Reading Program …
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Southern New Hampshire University named the following local students to the Spring 2025 President’s List. The …
Orcutt sails into championship round; Lompoc eliminated | Youth Sports
The Orcutt 14U All-Stars scored 36 runs total in their first three tournament games, and they did not slow down Tuesday. The host team roared into the championship bracket of the Central California Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old Tournament, beating Madera 16-0 on Morrison Field at Morrison Park, Orcutt’s home site. Orcutt will face the Madera-Hanford winner […]
The Orcutt 14U All-Stars scored 36 runs total in their first three tournament games, and they did not slow down Tuesday.
The host team roared into the championship bracket of the Central California Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old Tournament, beating Madera 16-0 on Morrison Field at Morrison Park, Orcutt’s home site.
Orcutt will face the Madera-Hanford winner on Morrison Field Wednesday at 3 p.m.. If Orcutt wins, Orcutt is the tournament champion. If Orcutt falls, a Thursday game on Morrison Field at 3 p.m. will determine the tournament champion.
Hanford eliminated Lompoc from the double elimination tournament with a 2-1 win at Ellis Field at Morrison Park Tuesday. Lompoc routed Northwest Bakersfield 18-1 in an elimination game on Ellis Field earlier in the day.
Orcutt will host the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament July 20-26. The winner and runner-up from the Central California tournament will advance to the regional.
Orcutt defeated Madera to win the 13-year-old Central California tournament, and Orcutt won in a rout Tuesday. The game was called after five innings because of the run rule.
Orcutt racked up 13 hits. Orcutt right-hander Julian Romero pitched a complete game. Orcutt lead-off batter Mason Padilla drove in five runs. Padilla belted a bases-clearing double into the left center field gap in a five-run Orcutt fifth.
“We’ve seen mostly fastballs during the tournament, and we’re a fastball hitting team,” said Padilla.
Romero doesn’t usually throw a change-up much, but he used it effectively Tuesday.
“I was throwing the change-up and the curveball,” said Romero. “I usually throw the fastball and curveball.”
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Romero made his second pitching appearance in the tournament and finished with his first complete game in the tourney.
Eight Orcutt batters had at least one RBI, and Elijah Ortiz had two. Rob Reynoso, Easton Verbryke, Dominic Quiroga, Elijah Solis, Niko Nevarez and Cayden Gradoville all had an RBI.
Antonio Vargas finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Ortiz, Padilla and Zander Andersen all had two hits for Orcutt.
Mingo Vargas drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Izzy Escobedo singled home another, and Hanford starting pitcher Kasen Thomas and reliever Escobedo made the two runs stand up.
Amir Williams drove in Vic Ortega on a groundout for the Lompoc run.
Lompoc 18, Northwest Bakersfield 1
Lompoc motored along quickly in this one. Ortega, the Lompoc lead-off batter, hit the second pitch to him in the bottom of the first inning over the left center field fence for a solo homer.
Lompoc racked up 11 hits, and the Northwest Bakersfield defense struggled. Ortega finished 3-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and four runs scored.
Williams had two RBIs for Lompoc, and Isaiah Lopez, Anthony Jimenez, Carmelo Jordan, Vito Pasqua and Mason Najera all had one.
Edmonton Riverhawks at Bellingham Bells 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 Joe Martin Field The Edmonton Riverhawks return to Bellingham after the Fourth of July weekend for a three-game series against the Bells July 8–10. Bellingham is 4-1 this season against the Riverhawks, and both teams are competing for the top spot in the North Division. […]
The Edmonton Riverhawks return to Bellingham after the Fourth of July weekend for a three-game series against the Bells July 8–10. Bellingham is 4-1 this season against the Riverhawks, and both teams are competing for the top spot in the North Division.
Tiny Tykes Tuesdays
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8
Lee Memorial Park
Keep the kids busy this summer with a series of classes that provide them a positive introduction to team sports. Coaches will lead activities, drills and mini-games to build basic skills along with sportsmanship and community. The featured sports include baseball, football, track and soccer.
Cascade Connections Cornhole Tournament
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 8
District Brewing
Gather friends or compete by yourself in some backyard, easygoing corn hole at District Brewing in Ferndale. The cost is $10 to enter, and the event will last until approximately 8 p.m.
Friday, July 4
WCL
Port Angeles Lefties at Bellingham Bells, 4:05 p.m.
Pro league
Pittsburgh Pirates at Seattle Mariners, 1:10 p.m.
Recreation
Bioluminescense Kayak Tour at Larrabee State Park, 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 5
WCL
Port Angeles Lefties at Bellingham Bells, 6:05 p.m.
Pro league
Pittsburgh Pirates at Seattle Mariners, 7:10 p.m.
Recreation
Chuckanut Foot Race at 100 Harris Ave., 9 a.m.
Lummi Island Full Day Kayak Tour, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 6
WCL
Port Angeles Lefties at Bellingham Bells, 1:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Storm at New York Liberty, 10 a.m.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Seattle Mariners, 1:10 p.m.
Monday, July 7
Recreation
All-Comers Track and Field at Civic Stadium, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 8
WCL
Edmonton Riverhawks at Bellingham Bells, 6:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
Recreation
Tiny Tykes Tuesdays at Lee Memorial Park, 10 a.m.
Cascade Connections Cornhole Tournament at District Brewing in Ferndale, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 9
WCL
Edmonton Riverhawks at Bellingham Bells, 6:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Storm at Connecticut Sun, 8 a.m.
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
Recreation
Summer Play Days on the Barkley Village Plaza, 10 a.m.
Thursday, July 10
WCL
Edmonton Riverhawks at Bellingham Bells, 6:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
Friday, July 11
WCL
Bellingham Bells at Kamloops NorthPaws, 6:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers, 4:10 p.m.
Connecticut Sun at Seattle Storm, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Northwest Tune-Up festival on the Bellingham waterfront, all day
Saturday, July 12
WCL
Bellingham Bells at Kamloops NorthPaws, 6:35 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers, 10:10 a.m.
Sporting KC at Seattle Sounders, 5:30 p.m.
Recreation
Lake Whatcom Triathlon at Bloedel Donovan Park, 7 a.m.
Northwest Tune-Up festival on the Bellingham waterfront, all day
Sunday, July 13
WCL
Bellingham Bells at Kamloops NorthPaws, 2:05 p.m.
Pro league
Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers, 10:40 a.m.
Washington Mystics at Seattle Storm, 3 p.m.
Recreation
Northwest Tune-Up festival on the Bellingham waterfront, all day
CDN’s sports calendar is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com. News Producer Eric Trent compiled the featured listings.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN’s sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
– Shannon Sharpe | First Take
