University of North Carolina Athletics
Jennifer Alley (back row, far right) led the 1984 Tar Heels to the program's first ACC title.
Alley Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
September 21, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Jennifer Alley, the women's basketball coach at UNC from 1977-86, has been honored as a 2020 Nike Lifetime Achievement Award winner by Women Leaders in College Sports.
During her career, Alley worked in both the AIAW and the NCAA as a teacher, coach and administrator. She went on to serve 13 years as the executive director for NACWAA, the precursor organization to Women Leaders in College Sports.
Alley was the first full-time women's basketball head coach at UNC and directed the Tar Heels for nine years, capturing Carolina's first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in 1984.
She led UNC to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearances, with four consecutive berths between 1983 and 1986. In 1984, she coached the Tar Heels to the program's first NCAA Tournament win, an overtime victory over St. John's in the first round.
Among the tributes to her on Twitter Monday was one from Bernadette McGlade, who played all four years of her Tar Heel career (1977-80) under Alley and is now the Atlantic 10 Commissioner.
"Through her goals and values, she influenced hundreds of student-athletes to be successful on the court and in life," McGlade said.
Alley came to UNC from High Point, where she served as the senior woman administrator, coached the women's basketball and volleyball teams, and held the rank of associate professor of physical education. In addition to basketball and volleyball, she coached field hockey and tennis during the course of her career.
She was Appalachian State's University Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2006 and was honored as an ACC Women's Basketball Legend in 2009. Alley received the NACWAA's Legacy Award at the 2010 National Convention.
During her career, Alley worked in both the AIAW and the NCAA as a teacher, coach and administrator. She went on to serve 13 years as the executive director for NACWAA, the precursor organization to Women Leaders in College Sports.
Alley was the first full-time women's basketball head coach at UNC and directed the Tar Heels for nine years, capturing Carolina's first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in 1984.
She led UNC to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearances, with four consecutive berths between 1983 and 1986. In 1984, she coached the Tar Heels to the program's first NCAA Tournament win, an overtime victory over St. John's in the first round.
Among the tributes to her on Twitter Monday was one from Bernadette McGlade, who played all four years of her Tar Heel career (1977-80) under Alley and is now the Atlantic 10 Commissioner.
"Through her goals and values, she influenced hundreds of student-athletes to be successful on the court and in life," McGlade said.
Tune in as Bernadette V. McGlade, commissioner at @atlantic10, talks about the incredible career of 2020 @Nike Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Jennifer Alley! #SheLeads #WomenLeadersX
🎥: https://t.co/2k71cwHYvA
— Women Leaders (@WomenLeadersCS) September 21, 2020
Alley came to UNC from High Point, where she served as the senior woman administrator, coached the women's basketball and volleyball teams, and held the rank of associate professor of physical education. In addition to basketball and volleyball, she coached field hockey and tennis during the course of her career.
She was Appalachian State's University Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2006 and was honored as an ACC Women's Basketball Legend in 2009. Alley received the NACWAA's Legacy Award at the 2010 National Convention.
Congratulations to Jennifer Alley, retired NACWAA executive director and our 2020 @Nike Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient! Today we celebrate Jennifer and all she has done for Women Leaders 💙💚#SheLeads #WomenLeadersX
🎥: https://t.co/CUS4vhLfqq
— Women Leaders (@WomenLeadersCS) September 21, 2020
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