Western Carolina University

Sue Persons - Gymnastics Coach - (1969-2005)
Has been associated with Catamount athletics since 1969, serving as a professor in the department of health and human performance, starting the women's gymnastics program in for the 1971-72 season and playing a key role in the molding of the athletics department -- specifically women's athletics. Persons' teams went undefeated for the 1972 , '73, '74 and '75 seasons, winning four straight Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) state championships. Her 1972 team went on to place second in the AIWA  Regional  while leading the Catamounts to a third-place finish in 1973. Western Carolina's gymnastics teams were tabbed Outstanding Athletic Team for Western North Carolina in 1973 and Outstanding Women's Collegiate Team by the Asheville Citizen in 1975. Was additionally the cheerleading team advisor where she was one of the first to incorporate men as well as tumbling routines. Outside of her coaching career, served as President of the North Carolina AIAW, was a North Carolina representative in Washington, D.C., that helped pass legislation that became known as Title IX and was the chairperson of the Western Carolina Athletics Committee. Persons has remained active within the athletics department, serving on the task force which reviewed the WCU Athletics program that resulted in over $13 million of improvements to existing WCU athletics facilities and the addition of a softball program and facility. She has also served as the chair of the Athletics Hall of Fame committee.