Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame
Don, Kay
Kay Don
- Induction:
- 2024
Kay Don was a pioneer of women's athletics at Texas A&M. At the birth of Title IX in 1972, she helped begin the Women's Sports Association (WSA) in Aggieland with the dream of sparking opportunity for women to compete in college athletics for the Maroon & White. As a faculty member in the Health and Physical Education department, Don had a budget of just $300 for the WSA to fund the nine newly created programs in that first year (softball, volleyball, bowling, badminton, tennis, track & field, cross country, gymnastics and swimming). Basketball would be added a year later, which Don coached for no additional compensation while a faculty member.
On June 15, 1975, the WSA finally became an official part of the Texas A&M Athletics Department after the Athletic Council voted to merge the two. Don was then named Interim Director of Women's Athletics and eventually Assistant Athletic Director of Women's Athletics. She served in that role from 1975-84.
Don coached numerous sports during her time at A&M, including basketball, softball and bowling. She was the first coach in the basketball program's history and served in that role during the 1974-77 seasons. She posted a 56-37 record, which is second all-time in winning percentage for Aggie women's basketball head coaches (60.2%).
Of the original 10 women's sports at Texas A&M, seven still remain and have won over 20 team national titles, cementing themselves as one of the elite women's collegiate organizations in the country. From Aggieland there have been countless All-Americans, Olympians and gold medalists. Don's contributions and sacrifice laid the foundation for that success and the future success of women at Texas A&M.
Don was inducted into her alma mater's (Southwest Texas State '66) Athletics Hall of Honor in 2003 and was also a former President of the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletics Administrators from 1983-87.
On June 15, 1975, the WSA finally became an official part of the Texas A&M Athletics Department after the Athletic Council voted to merge the two. Don was then named Interim Director of Women's Athletics and eventually Assistant Athletic Director of Women's Athletics. She served in that role from 1975-84.
Don coached numerous sports during her time at A&M, including basketball, softball and bowling. She was the first coach in the basketball program's history and served in that role during the 1974-77 seasons. She posted a 56-37 record, which is second all-time in winning percentage for Aggie women's basketball head coaches (60.2%).
Of the original 10 women's sports at Texas A&M, seven still remain and have won over 20 team national titles, cementing themselves as one of the elite women's collegiate organizations in the country. From Aggieland there have been countless All-Americans, Olympians and gold medalists. Don's contributions and sacrifice laid the foundation for that success and the future success of women at Texas A&M.
Don was inducted into her alma mater's (Southwest Texas State '66) Athletics Hall of Honor in 2003 and was also a former President of the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletics Administrators from 1983-87.
UNH Postgame: Jamie Morrison
Friday, September 19
UNH Postgame: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Amare Hernandez
Friday, September 19
Highlights: Texas A&M 3, UNH 0
Friday, September 19
Fall Practice Preview: Michael Earley
Friday, September 19
