Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has selected Senator Birch Bayh as the recipient of the WBCA President’s Award. This distinguished award is presented and chosen by the active president of the WBCA to an individual who has given a tireless commitment to the development of women’s basketball.

“In just 36 words, Senator Birch Bayh has profusely changed the culture in America for all women. Without his efforts, women’s athletics would still be one of the best kept secrets today,” WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “He has been extremely impactful in the development of our game and is an exceptional recipient of this award.”

Currently, Senator Bayh is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Venable LLP, representing individuals, businesses and public entities. Working with the firm’s Legislative and Regulatory practice, he counsels corporate interests with business before all three branches of government helping them to affect pending law, build coalitions, advance their causes, and to ensure that their voices are considered in the public dialogue.

Senator Bayh wrote landmark legislation on behalf of women and minorities, and worked to pass two other closely fought and nearly passed Amendments. Serving as author to the Title IX to the Higher Education Act, Senator Bayh’s legislation mandates equal opportunities for women students & faculty. Prior to Bayh’s legislation, women students were denied equal opportunities under the law in academics and sports: women students were routinely denied equal access to medical and law schools, veterinary medicine, engineering programs and the like; they received unequal scholarship assistance and were denied equal participation in sports. Similarly, female faculty members were denied equal compensation and promotion. Today’s rise of women in all academic disciplines and in school sports and the Olympics is a direct outgrowth of this landmark legislation.

Birch Bayh is a former member of the United States Senate, where he was privileged to serve his home state of Indiana, and to be a part of historic legislation affecting the American presidency and the individual rights of women, minorities and youth.

Senator Bayh’s political career began at age 26 with his election to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1954, where he served two years as Speaker and four years as Democratic Floor Leader. In 1962, at age 34, he was elected to the United States Senate.

Bayh was recognized and presented the award during the 2007 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Cleveland, Ohio.

Past recipients of this award include Betty Jaynes (WBCA), John LaBadd (Sears), Carol Stiff (ESPN), Robin Roberts (ABC News) and Val Ackerman (WNBA).

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.