Date of Award
6-2019
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Higher Education Administration: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Steven McCullar
Second Advisor
Tracy Ore
Third Advisor
Michele Traub
Fourth Advisor
Matthew Borcherding
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Women Coaches
Abstract
In 1972, the federal law Title IX altered the path toward equity and equal opportunity for girls and women in education and sport. Despite this legislation, the journey towards equality continues forty-seven years later. While support, opportunity, and growth for women in sport has increased, the decline and underrepresentation of female head coaches in collegiate athletics has decreased. Similar to the overall decline of collegiate female head coaches, women’s collegiate ice hockey at the NCAA Division I level has also experienced a decline and underrepresentation of female head coaches. While there is research on the decline of women coaches, there is little specifically on female collegiate head women’s ice hockey coaches. This research study will add to the literature on female coaches currently available.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of current female head coaches of NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey programs. Six female coaches of NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey programs agreed to participate in this study. Findings from this study, connected to the research questions, revealed themes of personal and professional career trajectories; personal and professional costs or barriers; personal and professional benefits and advantages; experiences with institutions and athletic administrators; insight on the decline of women coaches; and mentorship opportunities. The study ends with suggestions and recommendations for female coaches, aspiring female head coaches, and female athletes who desire to become coaches. In addition, insight is provided to athletic administrators and institutions regarding the importance of female role models, and ways in which they can support, retain, and mentor female coaches.
Recommended Citation
Fryklund, Amber, "Female NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Head Coaches: Keeping Women in the Game" (2019). Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration. 35.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/hied_etds/35
