Sul Ross Hall of Honor

Kay Whitley

  • Sport Coach/AD
  • Induction Year 2020

Biography

  • A member of the 1970 and 1971 National Champion Lady Lobo volleyball teams, Kay Whitley went on to serve as a coach and athletics director at her alma mater in a career spanning more than four decades
  • Graduated from Sul Ross in 1972 and went on to earn her Master's Degree before joining the coaching staff
  • Guided the Sul Ross volleyball program to nine TIAA titles, led the women's tennis team to seven conference championships and one league title for the men
  • Named Sul Ross director of athletics in 1997 
  • Upon Retirement in 2013, she was the American Southwest Conference's longest-tenured director of athletics
  • The second longest serving director of athletics at Sul Ross and is also the only female to serve in that capacity
  • Served as the university's compliance officer and senior women's administrator. She served on several NCAA Division III committees, including: Student Athlete Reinstatement Infraction Appeals, Strategic Planning and Budget, Working Committee on Membership Issues and chair of the Practice and Playing Season sub-committee
  • Officiated tennis and volleyball matches
  • Taught a wide variety of courses in biology, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and sports science, as well as driver's education and Red Cross swimming and life-guarding classes