50th Anniversary of Title IX
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
OF TITLE IX
About Title IX
This year marks the 50th Anniversary in which the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was signed.
Title IX Legislation
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.
History of Ole Miss Women's Sports
- December 3, 1974 - The Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team made its debut at Itawamba Junior College under Coach Pam Davidson.
- December 4, 1974 - The Women’s Basketball won the first women’s competition at Ole Miss
- July 21, 1975 - Guidelines for the Education Act of 1972, Title IX, was signed into law by U.S. President Gerald R. Ford
- Diane Pearson became the first woman named to the Ole Miss Athletics Committee (1978)
- Jeanne Taylor became the first Senior Woman Administrator at Ole Miss
- 38 Academic All-Americans
- 75 NCAA Appearances
- 154 All-Americans
- 6 Individual National Champions
- 1 Team National Title (Women's Golf - 2021)
- 5 Olympic Medals
- 3 Conference Titles
Gallery: Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX
Ole Miss Women's Letterwinners
Ole Miss has had a total of 1,271 women win athletic letters over the years. Click here for a full list of Rebel letterwinners.
- Basketball - 236
- Golf - 44
- Rifle - 79
- Soccer - 196
- Softball - 156
- Tennis - 129
- Track/Cross Country - 213
- Volleyball - 218
Rebel Olympians
It hasn't taken long for the Rebel women to make noise on an international scale, evidenced by five Olympic medals. Ole Miss has had five female Olympians, including two current Rebel coaches who competed on the Olympic stage as athletes. Click here for full information on the Rebels in the Olympics.
- Kayla Banwarth: Volleyball (2016 - Bronze)
- Jennifer Gillom: Basketball (1988 - Gold; 2012 - Coach)
- Peggy Gillom: Basketball (2000 - Coach)
- Connie Price-Smith: Track (Athlete: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000; Coach: 2008, 2012, 2016)
- Brittney Reese: Track (2008, 2012 - Gold, Silver; 2016 - Silver; 2021)
- Raven Saunders: Track (2016, 2021 - Silver)
- Rafaelle Souza: Soccer (2016; 2021)
- Ali Weisz: Rifle (2021)
How We're Celebrating
Each month Ole Miss Athletics is taking the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of Title IX through various events and recognition around campus and throughout the Oxford community.
- January:
- Student-athletes and members from the athletic department celebrated Title IX with a pregame brunch before women's basketball against Mississippi State.
- February:
- Former Rebel Peggie Gillom-Granderson spoke at "I am UM" as a part of the university's Black History Month celebrations.
- Hidden Figures throughout the Ole Miss community were recognized across Rebel athletic events for their contributions to campus and the community.
- March:
- Former SWA Lynnette Johnson and former women's basketball standout and assistant coach Peggie Gillom-Granderson were recognized as SEC Trailblazers during Women's History Month and for the 50 Years of Title IX Celebration.
- Rebel milestones and contributions across women's sports were highlighted across social media platforms.
- June:
- 50 Years of Women in Sports Appreciation Celebration at Buff City Soap
- Self-care appreciation luncheon for women within Ole Miss Athletics.
- 50 Years of Women in Sports Appreciation Celebration at Buff City Soap
- October:
- A Seat at the Table: Women Leaders in College Sports Discussion
- In collaboration with Women Leaders in College Sports, the Ole Miss Athletics department held a networking event for women in sports. Offered to undergraduate students, graduate students, professionals and community members.
- A Seat at the Table: Women Leaders in College Sports Discussion
The Future of Women's Sports
Ole Miss remains committed to creating opportunities for young women to succeed both on and off the field. The Rebels recently announced the CHAMPIONS. NOW. capital campaign, aimed at improving facilities for several of its athletic programs, including upgrades for three women's teams: softball, soccer and women's golf.
