WVU Women’s Basketball

Former WVU WBB HC Kittie Blakemore Honored with Street Name

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

WVU Athletics

Former WVU women’s basketball head coach Kittie Blakemore will be honored with a street named after her on Feb. 24 before the Baylor game, the University announced on Wednesday.

The street known as Rec Center Drive will be renamed to Kittie Blakemore Drive.

“In conjunction with our 50 Years of Women’s Basketball celebration, dedicating Kittie Blakemore Drive is a great way to honor Coach Blakemore,” WVU Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Many of her former players will be back and able to take part in the dedication, and I know that is important to them. It certainly is an honor well earned.”

Blakemore won 301 games at West Virginia over 19 seasons between 1973-92. Blakemore also won the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award twice during her career. Blakemore coached WVU to their only Sweet-16 appearance in 1992.

More from WVU’s press release:

Previously known as Rec Center Drive, the street begins at Morrill Way and terminates at the Student Recreation Center. The road will now honor one of the pioneers of West Virginia University’s women’s sports and her overall contributions, not only to athletics, but to the University’s then School of Physical Education. The prominent road was picked because of Blakemore’s impact as a professor of physical education, a leader in WVU’s intramural sports programs prior to Title IX and her success in intercollegiate athletics.

“Kittie Blakemore played a pivotal role in the history of our University,” President Gordon Gee said. “Her determination to implement Title IX, her status as a beloved coach of women’s basketball, and her mentorship through many decades of service made our campus a better place for countless students and colleagues.”

The dedication comes after Athletics celebrated 50 years of Title IX last year and during the current 50 years of women’s basketball celebration this year. The Feb. 24 date culminates the season-long celebration of WVU women’s basketball’s first 50 years with an alumni reunion weekend and the dedication of Kittie Blakemore Drive.