ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What did it take to build opportunities for female athletes when so many of the doors were still closed?
In Part 2 of our conversation with Hall of Fame volleyball coach Sherry Ammons takes us back to the early years of girls' athletics in Huntsville and the challenges that came with building competitive programs during and after the introduction of Title IX.
Sherry shares stories from her early coaching years at Grissom High School, when volleyball competitions were just beginning to take shape, equipment was improvised, and coaches sometimes had to officiate their own matches. She also recalls standing up for her athletes when their practices were interrupted, fighting for access to facilities, and navigating a school athletics environment where women rarely had a seat at the table.
Throughout the conversation, Sherry recognizes the coaches and advocates who helped move women's sports forward, reflects on the sacrifices her athletes made, and shares memories of the remarkable young women she had the opportunity to coach.
From the early struggles for gym space and resources to today's packed arenas, Sherry offers a firsthand perspective on just how far women's athletics have come - and why those opportunities should never be taken for granted.
