Oct. 30, 2008

NEW ORLEANS-Tulane University finished second in the country, receiving an A+ grade (175.11%), in the second annual Glass Ceiling Report Card. The study, commissioned by Penn State-York, analyzed how well major colleges and universities and athletic conferences are doing in providing coaching opportunities for women. Of the 115 colleges in the study, Tulane finished number two for the second year in a row, behind fellow Conference USA member UCF (191.02%). The Green Wave athletic department employed 12 female coaches, six of which held head positions.

The study covered the coaching staffs of 115 colleges among 11 Division 1-A conferences during the 2005-06 academic sports year. Grades were assigned based on the combined percentages of four categories in which women held coaching positions: head coaches of men's teams, assistant coaches of men's teams, head coaches of women's team and assistant coaches of women's teams.

The Green Wave employed female head coaches in all women's sports offered at the university, with the exception of one (women's tennis) and boasted a four-female women's basketball staff, headed up by Lisa Stockton, who is entering her 15th year at Tulane.

Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson was pleased to have been recognized. "It is gratifying for this acknowledgement, as it brings to light what is readily known and understood within our department and university community- that Tulane University recognizes and is committed to quality female leadership throughout our campus," Dickson said. "As part of our athletic mission, the importance of hiring and retaining quality female coaches is a priority. It also is an important statement made to the young women who choose Tulane that they can and should strive to reach the highest levels of achievement in all aspects of their lives."

For the 2008-2009 academic/athletic year, a female holds the title of head coach in eight of the 12 athletic programs offered at Tulane, in addition to four females who also serve as assistant coaches to five programs.