Washington State University Athletics
Cougar Hall of Famer Carol Gordon Passes Away at 95
June 08, 2021 | WSU Athletics
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Dr. Carol E. Gordon, longtime women's athletics administrator at Washington State University, passed away May 29 in Pullman. Gordon was 95.
"Carol Gordon was a pioneer in college athletics history," said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "She was instrumental in bringing change for women's athletics at a national level and her efforts paved the way, and continue to impact, countless student-athletes. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends."
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Gordon served as chair of the Washington State University Department of Physical Education for Women from 1962 until her retirement in 1983, and was instrumental in initiating WSU's women's intercollegiate athletic program. She also coached Cougar field hockey and tennis teams from 1962-66. Gordon taught psychology of sport classes in addition to her coaching and administrative duties at Washington State. In 1968, she was honored as the WSU Faculty Woman of the Year.Â
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She served as the second president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIWA) in 1973-74, and was a member of the AIWA/NCAA Joint Committee and the NCAA Long Range Planning Committee. In 1998, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, given to those who dedicated their professional careers to advancing women in sport.
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In 2004, she was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Gordon coached and taught at New Hampshire and Utah before joining the Washington State faculty.
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A native of Goffstown, N.H., Gordon graduated from Oberlin College, where she was a four-sport athlete competing in field hockey, tennis, basketball and volleyball. She later received her master's and Ph.D. in educational/counseling psychology from the University of Utah.
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"Carol Gordon was a pioneer in college athletics history," said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "She was instrumental in bringing change for women's athletics at a national level and her efforts paved the way, and continue to impact, countless student-athletes. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends."
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Gordon served as chair of the Washington State University Department of Physical Education for Women from 1962 until her retirement in 1983, and was instrumental in initiating WSU's women's intercollegiate athletic program. She also coached Cougar field hockey and tennis teams from 1962-66. Gordon taught psychology of sport classes in addition to her coaching and administrative duties at Washington State. In 1968, she was honored as the WSU Faculty Woman of the Year.Â
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She served as the second president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIWA) in 1973-74, and was a member of the AIWA/NCAA Joint Committee and the NCAA Long Range Planning Committee. In 1998, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, given to those who dedicated their professional careers to advancing women in sport.
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In 2004, she was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Gordon coached and taught at New Hampshire and Utah before joining the Washington State faculty.
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A native of Goffstown, N.H., Gordon graduated from Oberlin College, where she was a four-sport athlete competing in field hockey, tennis, basketball and volleyball. She later received her master's and Ph.D. in educational/counseling psychology from the University of Utah.
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