Kathleen J. DeBoer
Executive Director, American Volleyball Coaches Association
Former Senior Associate Athletics Director
University of Kentucky
kdeboer@avca.org

Kathleen DeBoer is currently in the midst of her second year as the executive director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after being appointed to the position in January of 2006. Prior to her appointment as the executive director, DeBoer served as the Commissioner of General Services for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.  In that capacity she oversaw Parks and Recreation, the Lexington Sports Authority, the Blue Grass State Games and a variety of other administrative areas including Property, Construction, and Fleet Services.

DeBoer previously worked for 23 years in intercollegiate athletics serving as a coach, administrator and fundraiser.  She served eighteen years at the University of Kentucky, finishing her career as the Senior Associate Athletics Director.  In that capacity DeBoer directed a successful $30 million capital campaign, raised over $10 million in private gifts to build an academic center, a softball/soccer complex, an outdoor tennis stadium and an office complex, and accumulated $3.5 million in endowment money to fund student-athlete scholarships.  DeBoer also oversaw the Blue and White Fund, growing annual giving from $2 million per year to $5 million per year.

From 1999 to 2002, DeBoer served as the Southeastern Conference representative to the NCAA Division I Management Council.  From 1997 to 1999 she was the chair of the Finance Committee of the NCAA Division I Business and Finance Cabinet.

Prior to her administrative career, DeBoer spent thirteen years coaching volleyball.  In her nine years as Kentucky’s head coach the Wildcats compiled a 212-96 record, won three Southeastern Conference Championships, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times.  In 1987, DeBoer was named National Coach of the Year.  From 1980 – 1983 she coached the Ferris State University volleyball team to three conference championships and two NCAA appearances.

From 1988 to 1996 DeBoer served as an advisor to the USA Women’s National Team. She was part of the coaching staff for three Olympic Sports Festival Teams and the 1989 World University Games Team.  She assisted with the 1993 Grand Prix in Seoul, South Korea, the 1994 World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

From 1978 to 1980 DeBoer played two years of basketball in the Women’s Basketball League, one of the first professional leagues for women in the United States.  While competing at Michigan State University she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy, the highest award given annually in women’s basketball.  Michigan State University honored DeBoer with the Nell Jackson Outstanding Alumna Award in 1989 and the Alumna Scholar Athlete Award in 1999.

DeBoer has written numerous articles on competition, coaching, and intercollegiate athletics.  Her work has appeared in The NCAA News, the National Federation News, Women in Higher Education, Coaching Volleyball, Coaching Women’s Basketball, and Soccer Journal.  She has authored book chapters for a sports medicine text entitled The Female Athlete and USA Volleyball’s Annual Manual.  She also has produced videotapes on skill development and gender differences in competitive settings.

DeBoer has her BA in Humanities from Michigan State University (1978) and her MBA from the University of Kentucky (1988).  She is married to Mark Pittman and resides in Lexington, Kentucky.

Christine Grant, Ph.D.
christine-grant@uiowa.edu

During Christine Grant's tenure as Women's Athletic Director of the University of Iowa from 1973 until 2000, Iowa’s athletics department grew to include 12 NCAA championship sports that won a combined 27 Big Ten Conference titles. Grant is well-known as a strong voice for women as she crusaded for gender equity in intercollegiate athletics and championed Title IX nationwide. With a coaching staff that was predominantly female, Grant guided the Iowa women's program to a position of national prominence. In addition, Grant has served as an expert consultant to the Health, Education and Welfare Office for Civil Rights Title IX Task Force. She has provided testimony in numerous landmark sport discrimination lawsuits against academic institutions and has appeared before congress.

Grant, currently an Associate Professor in Athletic Administration at the University of Iowa, has received several national awards throughout her career including the NCAA Honda Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Collegiate Athletics (1998). Grant was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Women's Institute on Sport & Education in 1994 and served as President of the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) from 1988-89. Grant served as a U.S. Olympic Committee member in 1980. She was a founding member of the of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and held the office of President of the organization from 1980-81.

During the 2007 NCAA Convention in Orlando, Fla., Grant was presented the Gerald R. Ford Award. The award, named in recognition of former President Gerald Ford, honors individuals who have provided significant leadership as an advocate for higher education and intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of his or her career.

A native of Scotland, Grant graduated from Dunfermline College of Physical Education in 1956. Grant formerly played and coached field hockey both in her native country and in Canada. She came to Iowa in 1969, earning a BA in Physical Education and Ph.D. in Athletic Administration from the University of Iowa.

Charlotte West
Former Associate Athletic Director
Southern Illinois University

Charlotte West, Associate Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University, retired in July of 1998. At the time of her retirement, West served as Chair of the NCAA Committee on Financial Aid and Amateurism. In addition, she served on the NCAA Committee on Athletic Certification. She also served for five years on the NCAA Council, and was a highly-contributing member on the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force. West was elected by members of the Missouri Valley Conference to be their representative on the NCAA Management Council.

West, who has experienced athletics as an athlete, an official, a coach and an administrator, was an All-State athlete in both volleyball and basketball and a nationally rated official in four sports. Her 1969 SIU golf team won the National Golf Championship the same year the SIU Basketball team, which she coached, placed fifth nationally. The SIU softball stadium was named in her honor in February of 2003.

West was the first woman member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and later served on their Executive Committee. In addition, West was the first recipient of the Honda Award given for outstanding achievement in women's collegiate athletics. She was also the first member to be recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators as the Woman Administrator of the Year. Another first was her induction in the class of women in the SIU Hall of Fame. During her tenure as President of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, West was a member of the United States Olympic Committee. Upon her retirement, the All-American Football Foundation recognized Dr. West with the Senior Sports Administrator Award given for outstanding performance in the profession. In 2005, West was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame under the Lifetime Achievement category, one of only six individuals to have received the honor.

Throughout her professional career, Charlotte West has worked to increase opportunities for women in sport. While in the 1970's West was a consultant for HEW on Title IX, in the 1990's she served as a consultant to the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. Today she continues the unfinished work of ensuring equal opportunity for women in sport.