Dorothy McKnight

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Dorothy "Dottie" B. McKnight worked as the executive director of the United States Women's Lacrosse Association and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports, a university professor, a varsity coach, and an advocate for sex equity in athletics.

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Early life and education

McKnight grew up around Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, where she attended Prospect Park High School and graduated in 1953. [1] [2] She earned her bachelor's degree from Ursinus College and her master's degree from Temple University. [1] [2] McKnight did post-graduate work at the University of Maryland. [1]

Career

McKnight began her career as a field hockey, basketball, and softball coach at Interboro High School. [2] She then moved to Michigan State University as a field hockey and lacrosse coach. [2] She then moved to the University of Maryland as a field hockey and basketball coach. [2]

At the University of Maryland, McKnight became an assistant professor in physical education. [3] [4] She served as the coordinator of women's athletics from 1971 to 1976. [5] As the coordinator, McKnight supervised seven coaches in eight different sports. [3] She was a coach at the university from 1964 until 1976. [3]

McKnight was the first varsity women's basketball coach at the University of Maryland in 1971. [4] She coached the team to their first state championship in the 1972-1973 season, defeating Morgan State University in the championship game. [6] McKnight also coached the first women's basketball game televised nationally in 1975. [3] [4] [7] Athletic director at the time Jim Kehoe secured a deal to televise the men's basketball team on the condition that they would televise one women's game. [7] The game was broadcast to 70% of the country by the Mizlou Television Network. [8] The team lost the televised game against Immaculata University at Cole Field House. [4] [7] McKnight held the position of varsity coach from 1971 to 1975. [9] During her four years coaching, McKnight's team won 44 games and only lost 17 games. [7] [10] Chris Weller assumed the role after McKnight left. [11]

After leaving the University of Maryland, McKnight worked at Athletic and Sport Consultants, Inc. for twenty years. [9] She was the president and the managing owner. [9] She was also the executive directors of the Educational Sport Institute. [2]

McKnight later became the executive director of the United States Women's Lacrosse Association. [1] [3] [5] [9] She began her role on July 27, 1996 and continued in the role until 1998. [9] McKnight also held the role of Executive Director for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS). [1]

Awards and recognition

McKnight was awarded with the Presidential Award from NAGWS. [1] In 2004, she was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame for her work in both administration and coaching. [1] [3]

McKnight is also known for her work for sex equity in sports and Title IX. [5] [12]

Written works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Inductee Year 2005". interboro-alumni. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore. (2000). Maryland Women Who Dare: Paving the Way to the New Millennium. Maryland Women's History Display Kit 2000. Equity Assurance and Compliance Branch, Maryland State Department of Education. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED449105.pdf
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dorothy McKnight (2004) - University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "10 Female Heroes of Maryland Sports". The University of Maryland Today. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  5. 1 2 3 "Collection: Dorothy McKnight papers | Archival Collections". archives.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  6. ↑ "Great Teams and Moments". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "First women's college basketball game on national TV was hard sell 30 years ago". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  8. ↑ Blitz, Matt. "45 years ago, the first nationally televised women's college basketball game was a blowout". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Wiser, Melissa C. (2013). Where's the Line?: An Analysis of the Shifts in Governance of Women's Lacrosse, 1992-1998 (PhD dissertation). Ohio State University.
  10. ↑ Delany, James E. "2018-2019 Big Ten Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF).
  11. ↑ Vecsey, George (1989-03-31). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; 'We Had To Play With Gloves'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  12. ↑ Bessone, Lisa T. (1994-11-16). "Show Daughters that Sports and Femininity Team Up Well". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
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