The Beginnings of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women at Marquette

The 1970s ushered in a new era for intercollegiate athletics across America, an era of new opportunity for women athletes. Designed to end discrimination in education, the effects of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 extended beyond the classroom and required equal opportunities for women athletes. Before Title IX, women’s teams lacked funding, programs, facilities and equipment — not to mention the opportunity to participate at the intercollegiate level.

Women’s intercollegiate athletics in 1975 consisted of 34 women playing three sports.

At Marquette, the task of restructuring the athletics program to comply with the law fell upon Hank Raymonds, athletics director and coach of the men’s basketball team. Under Raymonds’s leadership, Marquette began new programs to promote women’s athletics and made considerable progress in the development of women’s sports.
In 1975, Marquette hired Tat Shiely to serve as the coordinator of a new women’s athletics program. Faced with an unprecedented task, Shiely directed the development of women’s athletics and managed everything from the recruitment of students to the development of policies and programs for athletes. In addition to these extensive responsibilities, Shiely coached both the volleyball and basketball teams for several years. During her 24-year career at Marquette, Shiely created a thriving and dynamic women’s athletics program.

The inaugural season of Marquette women’s intercollegiate athletics in 1975 consisted of 34 women playing three sports — tennis, volleyball and basketball. Since this first season, the women’s athletics program expanded to include hundreds of women and a variety of sports from soccer to rifle shooting. Through players’ dedication and determination, women have become an instrumental part of Marquette athletics today.

Tat Shiely

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