West Virginia University presents Title IX Trailblazer Kittie Blakemore

Kittie Blakemore was the first women's basketball coach in West Virginia University history and a pioneer in the establishment of women's athletics. Starting the women's basketball program in 1973, she compiled a career record of 301-214 over 19 seasons, including the 1989 Atlantic 10 tournament championship, the 1992 regular season A-10 title and NCAA berths in 1989 and 1992.
The 1984 and 1992 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Blakemore mentored All-American Rosemary Kosiorek, all-conference players Donna Abbott, Alexis Basil, Olivia Bradley, Jenny Hillen, Cathy Parson and Georgeann Wells, the first player to dunk in a women's collegiate game. Following her retirement from coaching, she served as assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator until her retirement in 1997.
Blakemore holds a bachelor's degree from James Madison (1950) and a master's degree from WVU (1961). She started her career at Stratford Junior High in Arlington, Va., then spent six years as a teacher / basketball coach at Fort Meade (Fla.) High before coming to WVU in 1960 as a physical education instructor. Eventually gaining the rank of associate professor, she was named Outstanding Teacher in the School of Physical Education five times.