CLEMENTS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S AWARD HONORS BLACKMON AS TITLE IX PIONEER

In conjunction with March’s annual Girls In The Game luncheon, CSU Athletics honored former women’s sports coach Mary Blackmon as the recipient of its 2022 Frank M. “Sonny” Clements Athletic Director’s Award.

Clements hired Blackmon in 1959 to coach then-Columbus College’s first women’s athletics teams. She began by coaching volleyball, but later added women’s tennis to her coaching portfolio Her impact rippled far beyond CSU as she lobbied for the passage of Title IX gender-equity legislation, which was signed into law on June 23, 1972.

“Mary literally helped build with Coach Clements the foundation from which the success of our overall athletics program has benefited over the years,” Athletics Director Todd Reeser said.

The award, established in 2016, honors the memory of CSU’s inaugural athletics director, Frank M. “Sonny” Clements, who during his 24 years in the role also coached men’s basketball. The award honors an individuals for their transformational support of and services to CSU Athletics.