Since 1972, each June 23rd is a celebration for gender equality in America with the passage of Title IX. That year, Congress proclaimed, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Title IX's impact changed sports in America and intercollegiate athletics specifically. Previously, female collegiate athletes did not have the same avenues to participate in intercollegiate sports as men did. There was no governing body similar to the NCAA for women's athletics until the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was founded in 1971. Eventually, the NCAA began sponsoring championships for women's intercollegiate sports in 1982.
Today, San Jose State University sponsors 13 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports for women – cross country, soccer, and indoor volleyball in the fall; basketball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, and gymnastics in the winter; beach volleyball, softball, outdoor track and field, and water polo in the spring; and tennis and golf year round. According to the university's 2019 Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) report, 210 undergraduate women represent the Spartans in these intercollegiate sports and 25 percent of them compete in multiple sport combinations such as cross country and track and field and indoor and beach volleyball.
San Jose State can be proud of its athletics accomplishments by its female student-athletes, teams, and programs. In the last 10 years, the Spartans added the sports of indoor and outdoor track and field and beach volleyball; and won conference team championships in golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, and tennis. Spartan student-athletes captured individual conference championships in golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving, and track and field. The 2019-20 women's basketball team had the program's best season in 15 years winning 19 games. Women's water polo has been ranked in the top-10 nationally.
Also in the last 10 years, the university completed new competition and/or practice facilities for beach volleyball, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and water polo. There were facility upgrades for basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball, too.
San Jose State University female student-athletes have made their mark in professional sports, particularly in golf. Spartan alumnae currently serving as San Jose State head coaches include Dana Dormann, women's golf; and Beth Harberts, women's water polo.
SJSU President Mary A. Papazian, Athletics Director Marie Tuite, and Eileen Daley, deputy director of athletics for internal operations and the senior woman administrator, have leadership roles in intercollegiate athletics at conference and national levels.
Title IX paved the way for these accomplishments, achievements and much more.
