In a year when college athletics has celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX becoming law, Julianne Sitch is the latest example of how its positive impacts are still being felt.
Sitch made history by becoming the first female head coach of an NCAA men's soccer team to win a national championship. The University of Chicago men's soccer team that she leads captured the Division III championship Dec. 3. The Maroons topped Williams 2-0 in the title game, capping Sitch's inaugural season as head coach with a 22-0-1 record.
A former DePaul standout on the pitch, setting career records in goals, assists and points, Sitch joined a recent Social Series episode alongside UChicago team captain Richard Gillespie to talk about the historic season and accomplishment, as well as the dynamics of a woman leading a men's team.
"At the end of the day, when you're coaching, you want to help the athletes be the best on and off the field. It doesn't matter if you're coaching men or women. You're coaching the athletes, and you should be wanting to help inspire them to be at their best," Sitch said. "I knew that I was going to be the first female coach that (my players) have ever had. I know I'm the first woman that my assistant has had to work with, and they stepped into that room and they embraced me and I've never had any pushback. I've had nothing but support. They've been absolutely incredible, and, for that, I'm very blessed."
Watch the conversation with host Andy Katz on the NCAA YouTube channel or catch the audio recording on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or SoundCloud.
