Foote, Missy (staff), 2023-03-27

Item

Identifier: C181_Foote_Missy_Donovan_Beatrice_2023-03-27

Missy Foote oral history, 2023

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Scope and Contents

1 .mp4 file, 1 .m4a file, and 1 .vtt file containing oral history interview conducted on Zoom with former Women's Lacrosse Coach, Missy Foote, and Special Collections Oral History Intern, Beatrice Donovan, Class of 2023.5.

Introduction. Roles. Coach starting in 1977. Coached basketball, swimming, lacrosse, field hockey. Associate Athletic Director. Senior Women's Administrator. Director of Physical Education. Retired in 2015. (0:15); Title IX History. Graduated in 1974. Coaching Staff. Women's Department. Facilities. McCullough. (1:28); Combining Athletic Programs. Locker Room. Mary Lick. (2:37); National Issues. Women's Liberation Movement. Lack of Teeth in Title IX. (3:12); Addition of Women's Basketball. Coaching Women's Basketball. Lack of Time and Resources. (3:35); View of Women. Lack of Equality in Sports. Budget. Coverage. Lack of Credibility. (4:35); Women's Locker Room. Transportation. Shared Spaces. (5:35); Playing on Battell Beach. No Training Room. Spectators. (7:14); National Connection. Broadness of Title IX. Women's Liberation Movement. 5 Year Grace Period of Title IX. (8:18); Lack of Attention on Title IX. Shift in 1980s. Lawsuits at Schools. (10:08); Middlebury Protests. Sole Female Coach. Men Coaching Women. (11:13); Complaint to Board of Trustees. Parental Complaints. (12:32); Media Coverage. Women on National Stage. (13:30); New Locker Rooms. New Sports. Women Coaches. Women's Voice. (14:06); 1990s. Expectation for Women's Sports. (14:32); NCAA Tournament. John McCardell. Final Four. Field Hockey. Lacrosse. (15:20); National Championships. National Status. (16:14); Success in Opportunity. Getting Better. Competition. Sense of Self. (17:24); Sole Female Coach. Sue Murphy. Secretaries. (18:57); Child Care. (20:05); Expectation to Deflect to Men. Generating Change. (21:00); Logistics. (22:10); Comradery. Two-Sport Athletes. Collective Experience. (22:55); Parity in Coaching. (25:06); Administrative Role. Administrative Voice. Hands-on Work. Representing Individual Self. Russ Riley. Erin Quinn. (25:28); Title IX Now. Changing Title IX Interpretation. Sexual Assault. Gender. Legislation. (28:40); Continued Impact of Title IX. (30:30); Patsy Mink. (32:20); Female Training Facilities. Nutrition. Women's Athletic Gear. Sports Bras. Running Shoes. Jog Bras. (33:30); Publicity of Title IX. (36:15); Importance of History. Swim Goggles. Electricity. Cars. (37:30)

Dates

Creation: 2023-03-27

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research without restriction.

Biographical / Historical

Missy Foote spent 38 years, from 1977 to 2015, at Middlebury as a coach and an administrator. She was a significant and respected leader in athletics at Middlebury, in the NESCAC, and at the national level during her decades of service.

She directed the Panther field hockey program for 21 years with a career record of 180-95-12. Her 1998 team won the NCAA Championship with a 17-1 record. Prior to NCAA participation, Middlebury also earned two ECAC titles. Foote was named the Division III Regional and National Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1998.

In her 34 years as the women’s lacrosse coach, the Panthers reached 14 consecutive NCAA final fours, winning five national titles with four perfect seasons. Her 422 career wins (422-114-1) are third in Division III history, and she ranks fourth among coaches in all divisions. Foote is a five-time National Coach of the Year, eight-time Regional Coach of the Year, and six-time NESCAC Coach of the Year.

During her time at Middlebury, she served as the senior woman administrator and director of physical education, and coached basketball and swimming. She is also a member of the National Lacrosse, New England Lacrosse, and Vermont Halls of Fame.

(Source: Middlebury Hall of Fame: Missy Foote