University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The modern era of women’s sports at UT-Chattanooga began with Jean Biddle. Jean joined the staff at UTC as the coordinator of women’s athletics and intramurals in 1959. She was part of the group that reestablished varsity women’s sports in Tennessee and was elected Tennessee College Women’s Sports Federation (TCWSF) president in 1974. That same year, Sharon Fanning-Otis, played on UTC’s first intercollegiate basketball team. Sharon graduated in 1975 and went to UT-Knoxville to earn her master’s degree. While there she attended classes with Pat Head Summitt and served as a graduate assistant coach. In 1976, Fanning-Otis returned to UT-Chattanooga and built a winning program that included five NCAA conference championships. After 11 years, Sharon left UTC to be the head coach at the University of Kentucky and later Mississippi State University.

Did you know that Chattanooga is a hotbed for women’s tennis and softball? Two stories highlight these sports at UTC. Elizabeth Sharp Henderson was from Knoxville, but in 1976 UT-Knoxville didn’t have athletic scholarships, so Elizabeth traveled down the road to Chattanooga. Elizabeth dominated college tennis from 1976 to 1980. The three-time All-American led UTC’s team to three AIAW national championships. After coaching in North Carolina and Virginia, Henderson returned to Knoxville to coach UT’s women’s tennis team in 1984.

Another UTC and UTK connection is Karen Weekly, who moved to Chattanooga in 1996 with her husband, Ralph Weekly. Ralph had been hired to coach UTC’s softball team. A lawyer by training, Karen taught business law at UTC while also serving as Ralph’s assistant. In 1998, Karen became the head softball coach and led the program to an undefeated conference record and the NCAA regional tournament. She was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001. In 2001, Karen and Ralph became co-head coaches of Lady Vols’ softball and coached together until Ralph’s retirement in 2021. Speaking of Knoxville—let’s head there now for our final stop.

There are plenty of places you can visit at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to learn about legendary coach Pat Summitt, but you definitely want to stop by Pat Summitt Plaza located at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way, Knoxville—outside Thompson-Boling Arena near Pat Head Summitt Street and Chamique Holdsclaw Drive