University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
50 Years of Title IX: Athletic Director Janet Cone’s perspective
01.28.2022 | General, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – On June 13, 1972, Title IX, also referred to as the Equal Opportunity in Education Act was signed into law, stating, “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.”
As we celebrate the 50th year of Title IX, Bulldog Athletics will look to honor and acknowledge the lasting impact it has had on education and athletics. To kick off the celebration, we caught up with our very own Director of Athletics, Janet R. Cone.
Attending Furman University, Cone graduated with a bachelor’s degree while competing for the basketball and field hockey teams ultimately getting her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina.
On when Title IX was passed
“I went to Furman shortly after Title IX became law planning to be a pre-med major and attend med school. Title IX was intended to give more women like me opportunities to become doctors and lawyers, and pursue other careers that perhaps women did not get before Title IX. However, I also had a passionate love for sports and as a result of Title IX, women’s sports began to grow and provided me with more career opportunities in Athletics.”
Cone would get into coaching, specifically basketball, holding positions at various places including Western Carolina, Mars Hill, Saint Leo and Samford, where she would transition into athletics administration.
Looking Back on the Impact of Title IX today
“When I reflect back on what Title IX has meant to my life and how so many people impacted and mentored me, I hope that the 50-year celebration of Title IX will remind all of us to reach down, pull somebody up and give them an opportunity to pursue their dreams. It’s so much more than a law. A law enforces something but what makes a law happen are the individual people and groups that step up to help others to have these opportunities.”
In 2004, Cone was named the UNC Asheville Director of Athletics and in 2013 was one of just 28 Directors of Athletics to be named Under Armour AD of the Year by the NCAA. Additionally, Cone serves as Senior Administrator for University Enterprises, overseeing the successful opening of the Wilma M. Sherill Center.
When I reflect back on what Title IX has meant to my life and how so many people impacted and mentored me, I hope that the 50-year celebration of Title IX will remind all of us to reach down, pull somebody up and give them an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
On Asheville’s growth due to Title IX
“One of the things we pride ourselves on at UNC Asheville is giving all of our athletes, male or female, equal experiences. For example, when we talk basketball, soccer, tennis, we are not saying ‘men’s or women’s, we are talking about our ‘tennis program’ and we really value giving both male and female equal opportunities. It is our goal every day to be fair and show respect to all of our student-athletes.”
In the past 10 years, Cone has continued to pursue gender equity, adding the Swim and Dive program in 2012 and the women’s golf program in 2016.
One of the things we pride ourselves on at UNC Asheville is giving all of our athletes, male or female, equal experiences...It is our goal every day to be fair and show respect to all of our student-athletes.
On continuing to push forward
“We started the Our Turn to Play program over 16 years ago to remember and celebrate Title IX. Making sure our student-athletes today realize we have made tremendous progress but as Champions and Leaders we still have work to do.”
This past year, Cone spearheaded the “Celebration on the Court” initiative, as a way to tip-off basketball season with proceeds going to Bulldog student-athletes of all sports. The inaugural “Celebration on the Court” was held on October 21, 2021, simultaneously celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Wilma M. Sherrill Center and Kimmel Arena.