ODAC Title IX Talk: Sixth Feature

ODAC Title IX Talk: Sixth Feature Play Video
Posted: Jan 26, 2023

FOREST, Va. --- Our sixth edition of the ODAC's "Title IX Talk" feature series highlights individuals from four ODAC schools and the conference office as we talk to our biggest group yet. Four individuals from conference school's join Haley Overstreet, the ODAC Director of Championships, to discuss several topics surrounding their experiences with Title IX. Those joining Haley include Allison Nichols, the women's basketball head coach at the University of Lynchburg, Ashley and Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft, the head coaches for field hockey and women's basketball at Shenandoah University, respectively, and Bethany Dannelly, the current associate athletic director at Washington and Lee University and former ODAC Director of Championships.

All five individuals played at the collegiate level with four in Division III. Three spent their undergraduate years at ODAC schools. Nichols played basketball for Jean Willi at Bridgewater College before holding coaching positions in the ODAC as the head coach at Randolph College and an assistant with Roanoke College.

Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft was a full scholarship field hockey student-athlete at Michigan State University. In addition to her head coaching duties at SU, Ashley is the Hornets Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Outreach. Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft played basketball and softball at Drew University (N.J.), earning induction into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2017. Combined, the Smeltzer-Kraft household is home to three ODAC championship trophies.

Dannelly was a point guard for Washington and Lee women's basketball and still holds career program records for assists (459) and steals (197). She spent five years as the Director of Championships with the ODAC before returning to her alma mater. She previously coached basketball and served as a strength and conditioning coach at Colby College (Maine) and worked with the women's basketball program at the University of Virginia.

Overstreet is completing her first year as Director of Championships with the ODAC. She previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach for field hockey at her alma mater, Ferrum College, where she played field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. She has the unique distinction as being the only student-athlete to score a goal in each of those sports in school history.

Stay tuned to the ODAC website and its feeds on social media platforms for future editions of Talking Title IX. Be sure to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

To watch any of the previous episodes of ODAC Title IX Talk, find the one you want to watch from the playlist below.

ODAC Title IX Talk Features

  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Eighth Feature
    April 21, 2023
    In our eighth feature of ODAC "Title IX Talk," we turn our focus to the officiating side of sports and talk about Title IX and its impacts on the referees, umpires, and judges that enforce the rules of our sports. Former Hollins University and Emory & Henry College director of athletics Myra Sims returns to lead a discussion with two of the ODAC's most experienced individuals in the officiating realm -- Vickie Van Kleeck and Melissa Wiggins.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Seventh Feature
    February 17, 2023
    In our seventh feature of ODAC "Title IX Talk," we bring in some heavy hitters to discuss Title IX and its wide-ranging impacts on the collegiate landscape. Averett University Director of Athletics, Meg Stevens, leads a conversation with Louise McCleary, the Vice President for NCAA Division III.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Sixth Feature
    January 26, 2023
    Our sixth edition of the ODAC's "Title IX Talk" feature series highlights individuals from four ODAC schools and the conference office as we talk to our biggest group yet. Four individuals from conference school's join Haley Overstreet, the ODAC Director of Championships, to discuss several topics surrounding their experiences with Title IX. Those joining Haley include Allison Nichols, the women's basketball head coach at the University of Lynchburg, Ashley and Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft, the head coaches for field hockey and women's basketball at Shenandoah University, respectively, and Bethany Dannelly, the current associate athletic director at Washington and Lee University and former ODAC Director of Championships.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Fifth Feature
    December 22, 2022
    Our fifth edition of the ODAC's "Title IX Talk" feature series focuses on Ferrum College. We take a look at Panthers trailblazer Donna Doonan and reflect on her legacy at Ferrum College and hear what those who worked alongside her have to say.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Fourth Feature
    November 22, 2022
    Our fourth edition of the ODAC's "Title IX Talk" feature series focuses on Guilford College. In this two-part installment, we look back at Quakers trailblazer Elizabeth Parker Haskins and talk with current Guilford volleyball head coach and Senior Woman Administrator Emily Gann.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Third Feature
    October 21, 2022
    Our third edition of ODAC "Title IX Talk" welcomes back former Emory & Henry College and Hollins University Director of Athletics, Myra Sims. She leads a conversation with Virginia Wesleyan University Executive Director of Athletics Emeritus, Joanne Renn, and Washington and Lee University Michael F. Walsh Director of Athletics, Jan Hathorn. The trio of colleagues and friends touch on several topics including the impacts of Title IX on their careers transitioning from coaching to athletic administration, how access to leadership positions for women has evolved, and importance of male support as they advanced their careers.
  • ODAC Title IX Talk: Second Feature
    September 22, 2022
    The ODAC's second edition of "Title IX Talk" features Randolph-Macon College field hockey head coach Jess Weiss and Washington and Lee University women's basketball assistant coach Erin Hughes. The two are joined in conversation with ODAC Director of Championships Haley Overstreet.
  • ODAC Introduces "Talking Title IX" Feature Series
    August 22, 2022
    The ODAC is proud to announce and release its first edition of a new feature series entitled "Talking Title IX" in commemoration of the 50 year anniversary of the passage by Congress of Title IX in 1972.

IMPORTANT NOTES AND IMPACTS OF TITLE IX

  • Title IX was passed by Congress and written into law by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972.
  • Title IX states that "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
  • Title IX has had many impacts, but five of the major benefits include:
    • equality in enrollment for educational courses
    • women pursue and earn more degrees
    • women become collegiate professors
    • more girls and women not only play more sports, but more coach and become athletic administrators
    • protection for pregnant women from blatant discrimination (removed from school, offered lesser courses)
    • women increased participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)