AIAW History I Came Across During My Search For Results (With More To Come)

The history of Penn State Womens Cross Country began in 1975 with its AIAW sanctioned team. The team began with aplomb and was among the organizations strongest teams throughout its history until the NCAA took over Women's Sports with a bitter coup in 1981.

Penn State Women’s Cross-Country History

PennState fielded its first women’s cross-country team in 1975.  The team was an immediate success, winning regional championships from 1975 to 1985, and finishing in the top five nationally from 1975 to 1980, and the top ten through 1982.  In their first season, under coach Chris Brooks, the Nittany Lions finished second in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championships.  Under Brooks, Kathy Mills, one of PennState’s all-time great runners, was a four-time All American, won the 1977 AAU National Championship, and was the winner of the prestigious Broderick Award as the best cross-country runner in the nation in both 1977 and 1978.

Gary Schwartz replaced Brooks in 1979, but the regional championships and superior national performance continued, first as part of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and then, starting in 1981, with the NCAA.  A highlight of his tenure was a number three finish at the national championships in 1979. 

Coach Gary Schwartz.

Coach Groves and Coach Schwartz at a previous golf tourney.

Teri Jordan started her illustrious coaching career at PennState in 1984.  Over 16 seasons, she won numerous coach of the year honors, the team won three eastern regional titles, and then joined the Big 10 in 1991, finishing second or third from 1991-1996.  In 1996, Kim McGreevy was the Big 10 cross-country champion and athlete of the year. In 1999, Jordan was head coach of the USteam that competed in the World Championships. She is now Penn State’s Coordinator of Disability Programming and the Assistant Coordinator of the Ashenfelter Track Complex.

Matt Groves, Coach Teri Jordan, Coach Groves and Dan Jordan.

 Both Coach Jordan and coach Schwartz will be with us at the next Reunion and coach Groves Golf tourney in May.  spread the word and let's have the best ever turn-out of Women team members ever!