Betty Jaynes: Basketball

Administrative Pioneer for Basketball Coaches

Photo: http://www.wbhof.com/jaynes.html

When the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) held its first convention in 1982 just outside of Philadelphia in Wayne, Pennsylvania, the organization was set to pick its first executive director. The organization had been created the year before to address the needs of women’s basketball coaches. During the 1982 convention, the WBCA had a membership of 212 coaches and 99 attendees when Betty Jaynes was named its first executive director. She had been the head women’s basketball coach at Madison College (later to be renamed James Madison University) since 1970, where she compiled a 142-114 record, including a Virginia (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women [AIAW]) state championship in 1975 and three runner-up finishes. Jaynes first joined the staff at Madison in 1968 as an assistant professor of physical education with primary teaching duties in gymnastics, tennis, and swimming. She earned her master’s degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina in 1968 and her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Georgia College in 1967. As Jaynes accepted the

WBCA’s executive director position, she resigned from her post as head women’s basketball coach. Jaynes is a basketball lifer, having dedicated her career to advancing the participation, development, advocacy, and opportunities for girls and women in basketball.

During her tenure, the WBCA increased its membership to 5,000, including 98 percent of Division I women’s basketball coaches. Jaynes was respected for her leadership position in rules policies. She chaired the United States Girls’ and Women’s Basketball Rules Committee from 1979 to 1981 and was the tournament director of the 1975 AIAWLarge College National Basketball Championships, the first-ever championship game sell-out in the modern era of women’s basketball. At the same tournament, Jaynes played a leading role in presenting the first-ever Kodak Women’s All-America Basketball Team. “I think that’s when I really realized how much I loved administration,” Jaynes said. “Eastman Kodak came and they stayed with women’s basketball for more than 30 years. As you get more responsibility with administration, you want to move into the administration area. I loved administration—I loved that part of it. I think that’s why when the WBCA was created I didn’t have any problem at all taking over that executive directorship.”1

She chaired the Kodak All-American program from 1976 through 1982 and brought in Kodak as one of the first sponsors of the WBCA. Today, being named as an All-American is the most prestigious honor in women’s basketball. In 2005, the WBCA celebrated its 25th anniversary. By contrast to the inaugural convention in 1982, the 2006 WBCA Convention held in Boston, Massachusetts, had approximately 2,000 registrants and 120 exhibitors.

“This truly shows the interest that has been developed for the basketball coaching profession and the game of women’s basketball,” Jaynes said. “The most outstanding changes have been in the marketing of WBCA programs, as well as the wide respect in the athletic world regarding the opinions and visions of the coaches of women’s basketball.”2

Throughout her career, Jaynes has also served on USA Basketball’s board of directors and as chair of its Bylaws Committee, as a Women’s Sports Foundation trustee and vice president, a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame board member, and as an Atlanta Tip-Off Club board member and its vice president. Jaynes was named the WBCA’s first CEO on September 1, 1996. In 2006, Jaynes was the recipient of the Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of enshrinement. The award honors coaches, players, and contributors whose accomplishments have impacted basketball anywhere from the high school to the international level.

“The dedication and passion Betty has demonstrated for basketball has been instrumental in the growth and success of the women’s game at all levels,” said John L. Doleva, the Hall of Fame president and CEO. “Her leadership of the WBCA and her service for numerous committees and organizations has helped shape the sport, and her lifelong commitment to basketball exemplifies the spirit of the Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.”3

In addition, Jaynes was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame in 2006. A native of Covington, Georgia, Jaynes founded and served as president of the Georgia Women’s Intersport Network (GA WIN), whose mission is to develop and promote public awareness for women’s involvement and achievement in athletics and to create a strong network for women and girls involved in sports. GA WIN has championed Title IX legislation at the state and national levels, established the Georgia Girls’ High School Soccer State Championship, and hosts the

annual SPORTSFEST event to expose girls ages 8 to 13 to sports in which they may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate. The annual sports clinic is free of charge for its participants.

Her involvement in basketball dates back to her high school years, when Jaynes lettered in basketball all four years and was an All-State selection in both her junior and senior years. During her senior year, she led her team to a 33-1 record and a berth in the 1963 Class AA Georgia State Championship Game. “My parents really wanted me to be more of a Shirley Temple type,” she said. “They provided me with opportunities to play piano, dance, and play the trumpet. In sixth grade middle school PE class I became very enthralled with basketball. I was very athletic so I picked up on those skills. It was that physical education experience that got me into the game.”4

Betty Jaynes served as the WBCA’s first CEO until 2001. Since then, she has worked as a consultant for the WBCA, acting as chief liaison to affiliated governing bodies and sport organizations, overseeing the WBCA’s legislative role with the NCAA, and handling additional advisory affairs.“

Anytime that you start out something—that you have a passion for—you don’t know what the ends will be, it’s the process,” Jaynes said. “That’s what I have enjoyed with my life, it’s the process trying to make it the very best that I can on behalf of the coaches.”5

Notes

1. Betty Jaynes, interview with the author, September 16, 2008.

2. Mercyhurst College, “WBCA Celebrates 25th Anniversary,” Mercyhurst College,

http://hurstathletics.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/092705aaa.html.

3. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, “Betty Jaynes Recipient of Prestigious

Hall of Fame Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award,” Naismith Memorial Basketball

Hall of Fame, http://www.hoophall.com/genrel/030707aaq.html.

4. Betty Jaynes, interview with the author, September 16, 2008.

5. Ibid.

This excerpt was written by Horacio Ruiz