Marilyn J. Mather, Connecticut – 2005

Marilyn is currently a professor of Sport Management. Her career in girls’ and women’s sport has included coaching basketball (1977-1984) and badminton (1977-1981) at Hamden, CT, High School. She then served as Athletic Director from 1984-1989 at Albertus Mangus College. From 1993-1997, she served at volleyball coach and in 1997 she was the softball coach.

Marilyn officiated high school volleyball from 1998 to the present. She has also served as an advocate in the NEWMAC League and was commissioner in 1993-1994. In 1994 she founded and served as president for POWERS (Promoting Opportunities for Women to Engage in Recreation and Sport), 1994-1999.

Her league/board affiliations have included: commissioner for the NEWMAC League, chairperson of the Women’s Basketball Committee (1991-1994); Volleyball committee member (1993-1994); chairperson for the NCAA Northeast Regional Basketball Committee and Nominating Committee member (1991); New England Women’s Volleyball Association Coaches’ Poll committee (1995-1996).

Most of her team records are not available. She does report that her Coast Guard Volleyball teams were 119-23 and the Coast Guard Softball team was 24-4. Marilyn’s teams at Hamden High School qualified for two semifinal appearances in basketball and badminton. Her Coast Guard Volleyball teams were undefeated in league play in 1994, ECAC runners-up in 1996 and 1996, and NCAA Regional runners-up (Sweet 16 competitions).

Marilyn was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2001. She was the Northeast Women’s Athletic Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1995 and the New England Regional Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1994. In 1994, Marilyn was one of 75 out of 700 applicants to receive a grant to attend the “Links to Leadership” conference.
Marilyn has had many articles and research published in the areas of women’s sport. She has presented at national and international professional conferences.