The University of Colorado’s first women’s athletic director, Jane Wahl, received the inaugural Jane Wahl Legacy Award Sunday.

Wahl, who lives in Gothenburg, is a Eustis native and was honored at both at both a pregame reunion luncheon at CU with dozens of former players, basketball alums, athletic department staff members and guests, including some of Wahl’s former high school athletes from the Chicago area.

She was honored again at halftime during a women’s basketball game.

The award will be presented annually to a member of the women’s basketball community who, through their achievements after graduation, brings honor and recognition to the program.

Wahl accepted the award from Ceal Barry, CU’s associate athletic director for student services and former women’s basketball coach.

Barry noted that the first decade of women’s athletics set the table for future success.

And, in the case of basketball, began several traditions, including making the Coors Events Center the tough place it has become for opponents to play.

“I view this like a relay race,” Wahl said. “I worked the first leg and then handed the baton to others who went on to bring women’s athletics at CU to where it is today.”

Wahl noted that the work she did at CU was some of the most meaningful of her life to help create opportunities for women to participate in varsity athletics that didn’t exist before 1974.

“It was rewarding to do work that empowered women, life-changing work that served them well for the rest of their lives,” she said.

University of Colorado Sports

Information Department