SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Marygrace Colby, Santa Clara University's first director of women's athletics who was a pioneer in the advancement of women's athletics programs, died on January 17, 2022, at age 88.
Colby's Santa Clara athletics career spanned four decades from 1963 to 1995 as a coach, Director of Women's Athletics, and Assistant Athletic Director with her commitment to equal opportunity for female athletes.
The Santa Clara Athletic Hall of Famer, who was enshrined in 1982, coached basketball, volleyball, swimming, golf, and tennis on the Mission Campus. She compiled an overall record of 433-324-6, including three West Coast Conference Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Colby served as the Director of Women's Athletics from 1963 to 1986 and Assistant Athletic Director from 1987 to 1995, during which time she coached and mentored Olympic swimmers, World Cup Soccer players, and Honda National Athlete of the Year winners.
During her time as the Director of Women's Athletics, Santa Clara became a charter member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in 1971. That new governing body for women's athletics became part of the NCAA in 1982.
Fifty years ago, in 1972, Title IX was passed into law that prohibited sex-based discrimination in academics or athletics that received funding from the federal government. With the landmark legislation, Colby advocated and challenged the Santa Clara administration to help women's athletics expand.
Marygrace Colby became the namesake for the first-named athletic scholarship specifically awarded to a female athlete at Santa Clara University in 1995.
The Santa Clara Athletics student-athlete award is also named in her honor, given annually to a female senior athlete who best demonstrates the qualities or attitude, character, desire, competitive spirit, and the will to excel both on and off the field of play.
An announcement to celebrate Marygrace's life will be announced when plans are finalized.
If you would like to contribute to Santa Clara Athletics in memory of Marygrace's legacy, please consider a donation to the Marygrace Colby Athletic Scholarship in support of Bronco female student-athletes.
For more on Marygrace Colby's life and story, click here.
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