50 years. That's just a drop in the bucket in terms of world history. However, when talking about women's sports, it's a lifetime.
 
In 1972 Congress enacted the Title IX of the Education Amendments 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."
 
Following that passage, women's sports became a reality in university athletics departments across the nation.
 
Throughout the 2023-24 Chattanooga women's basketball season, we will explore the beginnings of the most successful program in Southern Conference history and its journey through 50 years.
 
In a four-part series, all seven head coaches look back on their time with the program and their contributions along with memories of former players and big games, road trips and home court advantage.
 
Chattanooga's first varsity coach was a sixth grade teacher who thought her days of coaching were behind her when a knock on the door from former Director of Athletics Harold Wilkes brought her to UTC.
 
From a part time head coach to today's staff, we will explore through an oral history as told by those who were there, how far this program has come. Former players, administrators and staff tell their part of the story.
 
This week we will look at the first two seasons and the women who saw Title IX bring change to college sports.
 
Grace Keith, the first of seven head coaches in Chattanooga women's basketball history, took on the task of rebooting a program whose history was in the physical education department. It moved into the athletics department to become a full-fledged varsity sport.
 
She started with 10 players and was down to eight by the time the first game tipped off at Cleveland State on January 4, 1975. The "Amazing Grace" was a staff of one but had the help of legendary athletic trainer Sandy Sandlin. She made phone calls to put a team together and build a schedule in just a matter of months.
 
During an interview with longtime women's basketball broadcaster Larry Ward, Keith reminisces over her two seasons at UTC and what it meant to women's sports.
 
She passed away July 14, 2021, from breast cancer at the age of 86.
 
50 Seasons of Greatness, An Oral History of Chattanooga Women's Basketball
Nov. 9: Episode One: Coach Grace Keith
Nov. 16: Episode Two: Coaches Sharon Fanning and Craig Parrott
Nov. 23: Episode Three: Coach Wes Moore
Nov. 30: Episode Four: Coaches Jim Foster, Katie Burrows and Shawn Poppie
 
Throughout the season, we will look back at the previous 49 seasons in "This Week in UTC Women's Basketball History".
 
Look what happens when that knock on the door gets answered.