Judy Devine Inducted Into NFHCA Hall of Fame
1/6/2017 10:34:00 AM | Field Hockey
Matriarch. Trailblazer. Coach. Administrator. Judy Devine has left a lasting impact on the Kent State athletic department and was honored for her dedication to field hockey and women's sports by being inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame Thursday night.
As Kent State Head Coach Kathleen Wiler said during her introduction, Devine truly was a pioneer. She first came to Kent State as a graduate student in 1969 and quickly added on the roles of field hockey coach, women's basketball coach, softball coach and athletic trainer, among other duties. When Title IX legislation came into play, Devine was named an assistant athletic director and coordinator of women's athletics. She was promoted to associate athletic director in 1978. Devine retired in 2000 after leaving an impact that still resonates today.
The list of awards Devine has achieved throughout her years of service at Kent State and beyond is never-ending. Most recently, she was one of 25 candidates chosen nationwide for the Title IX Trailblazer Award, which honored individuals who made significant contributions in the area of gender equality. Two years later in 2014, Devine was awarded Kent State's Diversity Trailblazer Award for her contributions of diversity to the university community. After that, she became the first female administrator to be inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame.
Devine was honored Thursday night during the annual NFHCA conference in Naples, Florida. To watch her entire induction speech, click here to head over to Kent State Field Hockey's page on Facebook.
