Tina Sloan Green on Title IX and founding the Black Women in Sport Foundation

Tina Sloan Green was the first African-American head coach in the history of women’s collegiate lacrosse and the co-founder of the Black Women in Sport Foundation.

Sloan Green,73, established Temple as a premiere lacrosse program while at the helm from 1975 through 1992, leading the Owls to three national championships and 11 consecutive Final Four appearances. Born and raised in the Eastwick neighborhood of Philadelphia, her athletic chops were cut playing stick ball and jumping rope with local kids before she was eventually introduced to organized sports at the Philadelphia High School for Girls. It was there that she began playing field hockey, which spurred her future lacrosse endeavors. In 1969, she became the first African-American named to the U.S. national women’s lacrosse team, then played on the touring team for four years before kicking off her coaching career.

Being on the front lines of women’s collegiate sports as a coach in the years immediately following the passing of Title IX in 1972, Sloan Green was and continues to be intimately familiar with the underrepresentation of women of color in non-traditional sports such as lacrosse. That familiarity is the reason she established BWSF in 1992, which aims to increase the involvement of black women and girls in sports, from participating as athletes, coaches and administrators.

espnW spoke to Sloan Green about being the “first,” working toward the advancement of women of color in sports and Title IX.

espnW: How does it feel to be a pioneer in women’s lacrosse and sports in general?

Tina Sloan Green: I was very proud to be the first, but I never wanted to be the “only.” That pride is unbelievable. I wanted to represent my family and friends, the university and, most importantly, the African-American community. I realized the importance of that — and, if I…

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