Dorothy M. Diehl, New Hampshire – 2003

Dorothy M. Diehl, New Hampshire – 2003

Dorothy, who has retired from teaching, is currently an adjunct professor at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire.  During her long tenure there, she was known on campus as the “Title IX Person.”

For nineteen years, she was head coach of field hockey at Plymouth State College.  While a faculty member, she worked on campus to establish Title IX.  During that time she worked for the establishment of a women’s swimming and diving team, and for the establishment of a female athletic director.  She served on the Equity Committee which revised the policies of the athletic department, was appointed to the President’s three-member Supervising Council to supervise/oversee the athletic director on all equity issues and policies.  She instituted a course entitled “women in Sport” and has taught courses in field hockey coaching, officiating and skills.

Dorothy has been affiliated with the USAF as a northeast sectional official, the Massachusetts College Field Hockey Umpires Association as a member, the New Hampshire Field Hockey Umpires Association as a member and on the Board of Directors.  She played field hockey for the New Hampshire Field Hockey Club Association; she played and officiated for the New England Touring team for over 30 years; and she also administered, taught, and officiated at clinics, play days, and tournaments.

Records of her teams’ achievements are not available, but she does remember the “100 Wins” celebration in the mid-1980’s.  Her officiating career has included working the Little East Tournament in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and the finals of the New Hampshire State Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Dorothy has served in many positions at Plymouth State College which have allowed her to be an advocate for women’s sport:  chairperson of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, chair of the Affirmative Action Committee, member of the College Athletic Council for over 25 years, member of the Women’s Caucus, and member of the Women’s Studies Council.

Plymouth State College has recognized her achievements by presenting her the Theodora Kalikow Award for Leadership of Women at Plymouth State College (1998), and by establishing the Dorothy Diehl Outstanding Field Hockey Player Award in 1989.

During her long tenure at Plymouth State College, Dorothy was known as the “Title IX Person’, “The Women’s Rights Advocate” and “The Radical Feminist” – all roles which she “has been happy to play.” 

“It was in coaching and teaching that I could reach our young women. From what I hear from my alumnae, now teachers, coaches, parents, I think maybe we have.”