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MSU's Title IX Pioneer: Deanie Brown Started the Highly Successful Volleyball Program

https://msueagles.com/

As part of its annual Spring Meetings, the Ohio Valley Conference celebrated pioneers of Title IX at a luncheon. The event is part of a year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. Morehead State's pioneer is Laradean "Deanie" Brown, who started the intercollegiate volleyball program in 1972.

June 23, 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, which was signed into law in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Brown began her career in 1972 as she developed and built the Eagle volleyball program and spent nine seasons at the helm. She compiled a 193-60-7 record at Morehead State.

During her tenure she led the Eagles to Kentucky Women's Intercollegiate Conference Championships in 1974 and 1976. Brown's 1977 team posted a 39 -11 record, still the program's single-season wins record. She is also the only volleyball coach to lead three teams to 30-win seasons and some of her athletes still hold school records today. Brown was inducted into the Morehead State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 and has continued to serve Morehead State and the Morehead community in a variety of roles throughout the last four decades.

Current head volleyball coach and Director of Athletics Jaime Gordon said without Brown's vision, the current success of the program and the opportunities for all females would not be at the level it is today.

"In the very first year of Title IX, Deanie wasted no time paving the way for female athletes to achieve their dreams at Morehead State University. She built the MSU volleyball program from the ground up and without her vision and dedication in the early days, our success 50 years later would not be possible," he said. "Morehead State is forever grateful for Deanie's leadership to not only Volleyball, but to our entire Athletics Department. Her legacy has enormously impacted the future of all female Eagles for generations to come."

OVC TITLE IX PIONEERS

By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations