HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Forty years ago, Title IX awarded women the opportunity to play high school and college sports.
When the law passed in 1972, it effected thousands of women across the country.
Doris McHugh, a University of Alabama graduate and a former educator, said before the law was passed, she coached the girls basketball team at the YMCA in the late 1960's. She said that was the only place girls could go at the time to play sports.
"The Butler High School girls played at the old McCormick Y, but they called themselves Butler even though it was a Y program," said McHugh. "The girls that played at Huntsville high played at the downtown Y."
With no resources and little money, McHugh found a sponsor to buy the girls uniforms. When President Nixon signed the act, McHugh was appointed as a Title IX coordinator for the Huntsville City School system.
She had the responsibility of overseeing the process and making sure all schools were abiding by the mandate. She said things moved slow at first, but five years later in 1977, Huntsville had its first softball team program implemented in the school system.
McHugh said women's sports started to take off after that. Women's volleyball, basketball and tennis soon followed and women coaches demanded equal pay to male coaches.
Because of Title IX, the future for female athletes was bright.
"I think it will only get better, I mean whatever is needed at the college level or at the high school level. It will be made available."
McHugh stayed active in the community after she retired. She continued to coach, work with the school board regarding Title IX issues and helped establish several mini gyms around the city. McHugh also carried the torch in the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay.
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