University of Minnesota Athletics
History of Gopher Women's Athletics
1903
First women’s basketball team competes extramurally, wins 10 games and is awarded letters by the Board of Athletic Control. This marks the first time such recognition had been granted to a women’s team.
1910
Freshmen students are formally invited to join the Women’s Athletic Association for both athletic and social purposes for the first time by WAA President Elsa Ueland. “The first reason is health. The only freedom and relaxation that you can get will come from real physical exertion, that will leave your bodies pleasantly weary, but your minds suddenly fresh. The second great reason is the companionship, the generous democratic good fellowship that your part in athletics will make easy, spontaneous and frank,” Ueland wrote. “A life without physical vigor and without friends is almost bound to be futile and sad. Why not let athletics help to bring you these great things that we all need. And as it has already done in the past, so in the future, engagement in college athletics will make you stronger, saner, happier women.”
Throughout the early and mid part of the century, the Women’s Athletic Association was active on campus including offerings such as archery, badminton, basketball, bowling, dance, fencing, riding, rifle, golf and swimming.
1967
Many women’s teams begin to expand competition schedules outside of intramural activities, facing other in-state universities and colleges although the teams are not officially recognized as varsity clubs.
1971
The University officially recognizes Women’s Athletics and gives the program a budget of $5,000 leftover from the Regents’ reserve fund. The program is managed by the Department of Physical Education. Swimming and diving is the first official varsity women’s intercollegiate sport.
1972
Title IX amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 was passed requiring college and universities to provide equal opportunity to male and female student-athletes, leading to expansion of collegiate athletics opportunities for women.
Women’s basketball begins varsity intercollegiate competition.
1973
Jean Freeman, a letterwinner in the pool from 1968-72, is named the first full-time head coach of a women’s sport. She leads the swimming and diving program until 2004. During her 31-year tenure, Freeman produced 27 winning seasons; captured two Big Ten Championships, won 208 dual meets; and coached two National Champions, 14 Big Ten Champions, and 175 All-Americans.
1974
Women’s athletics budget increases to $250,000 but athletes are still providing their own equipment, meals, etc. The teams had to schedule competitions and practices around men’s teams and intramural sports.
Terry Ganley becomes Minnesota’s first female All-American, earning honors in women’s swimming (100 backstroke) during the AIAW championship. She would later become an assistant coach at the U of M and co-head coach of the women’s program in 2004.
Several women’s programs begin varsity competition including crew, golf, field hockey, gymnastics, tennis, softball, volleyball and cross country. Linda Wells is hired as the softball and volleyball head coach while assisting with basketball.
1975
Minnesota formed the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Department in July of 1975, which operated parallel to men’s programs. Women’s tennis coach Belmar Gunderson is hired as the first athletics director. Gunderson had previously served as the intramural and extramural director and as a physical education instructor.
1976
Dr. Vivian Barfield (left) is hired as the women’s athletics director, a position she held for five years.
Basketball players Kathie Eiland (right), Yvonne McDonald and Drucilla Taylor become the first African-American women to earn scholarships at Minnesota.
1977
The Minnesota legislature approves $1.2 million to the women’s athletic program for the period of 1977 to 1979.
1978
Field hockey records a program-best 20-5-1 record.
Softball finishes third at the AIAW national tournament.
1981
Gretchen Larson is Minnesota’s first softball All-American; she’ll repeat two years later.
Chris Curry becomes the first women’s swimming and diving national champion, winning the AIAW title in 3-meter diving.
Field hockey is discontinued as a varsity sport.
1981
Linda Roberts (basketball) becomes the first black woman to earn All-America honors.
1982
Merrily Dean Baker is hired as the third women’s athletics director. The same year, the NCAA becomes the primary governing body for women’s athletics and the AIAW dissolves after a 10-year run providing a competitive national platform.
The Big Ten Conference begins formally sponsoring women’s conference play and championships.
Women’s crew earns varsity status from the university. The sport is discontinued in 1985 but returns in 2000.
1986
Gopher Softball wins Minnesota's first official women's Big Ten title.
1986
Diane Wallner wins an unprecedented four Big Ten swimming titles and earns five All-America awards. Wallner ends her career with a record 13 conference titles.
1988
Chris Voelz is hired as the fourth women’s athletics director which she held until the men’s and women’s departments were merged in 2002.
Women's Gymnastics wins its first conference title.
1989
Women’s gymnasts win individual titles in every event, plus the all-around, on their way to the Big Ten regular season title, their second in a row.
1989
Women’s golf wins the Big Ten title and finishes a program-record 12th at the NCAA Championships. Kate Hughes becomes Minnesota’s only All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year.
The volleyball program earns a NCAA Tournament berth for the first time, defeating Colorado in the first round.