IWLCA Creates Tina Sloan Green Award

NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. – The IWLCA Board of Directors has voted to approve the creation of an annual award to recognize work promoting equity and inclusion. The award will be named in honor of legendary Temple coach Tina Sloan Green, the first black head coach in the history of women's intercollegiate lacrosse.

Green guided the Owls to three National Championships during her 18-season run, compiling an outstanding 207-62-4 record with a .758 career winning percentage.

"The creation of the Tina Sloan Green Award demonstrates the IWLCA's ongoing commitment to encouraging and celebrating those who advocate for equity and inclusion, particularly in the athletics community," said Liz Grote, IWLCA President and head coach at Bowdoin College. "While a tremendous amount of progress has been, and continues to be made in the past year, this award will be an annual reminder that there is still significant work to be done as we strive for equality and inclusion in our sport."

Green is one of the greatest lacrosse coaches of all time. She was at the helm for Temple from 1975-1992. Green is the only Temple coach in any sport to win three national titles, leading the Owls to two NCAA titles and one AIAW title. The crown jewel of her run as Temple's coach came in 1988 when she led the lacrosse team to a perfect 19-0 record and a national championship. Her teams won 29 straight games between the 1983-84 and '84-'85 seasons. Green has been inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame (1994), US National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1997), the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1999), and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2013).

"It is humbling to have an award named in your honor," said Sloan Green. "A significant part of my post-coaching career has been focused on providing opportunities for black girls and women in sport. Seeing the IWLCA openly addressing issues of equity and inclusion gives me hope that we can build a more diverse culture within the sport that provides equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of their race or socioeconomic background. This award will promote and celebrate those efforts to change the sport for the better."

Despite retiring nearly 30 years ago, Green continues to influence and inspire Temple's coaches today.

"So many people know Tina for her accomplishments from her days as the Temple women's lacrosse coach," said current Temple lacrosse head coach Bonnie Rosen. "From the first moment I met Tina, when I arrived on Broad Street, I knew Tina for her passion to provide more girls of color an opportunity to play sport. She has been a tireless leader and advocate for girls in sport and opportunity for all. While this award acknowledges Tina's impact as a role model and a change maker, it is even more fitting and meaningful that this award ensures action will come when it comes to purposefully increasing the diversity of participation and representation in our sport and ensuring equity and inclusion is a focus in all areas of our game."

Green also led the Temple field hockey program. "My respect for Tina is unmeasurable," said Temple field hockey head coach Susan Ciufo. "Her lacrosse accolades may run deep but having the opportunity to coach Temple Field Hockey knowing Tina was once in charge is a great honor. Tina is the first African American to have put on a USA field hockey uniform. Her passion for equity is admirable and runs deep in her roots at Temple. Having the opportunity to have met Tina on multiple occasions has been a true pleasure and helps remind me as a coach the importance of our role going so much deeper than our sport. It's no surprise Tina is being awarded with this honor and her field hockey family is behind her 100%! "

Details regarding the nomination and selection process will be shared with the IWLCA membership later this spring. The first recipients of the Tina Sloan Green Award will be recognized at the IWLCA's 2021 Annual Convention, which will be held November 17-19 in Dallas, TX.

Temple University Athletics

IWLCA Creates Tina Sloan Green Award

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