Legendary athletics director coaches students on how to be successful in life

University of Tennessee women's athletics director emeritus Joan Cronan, third from left, visits with some of Pellissippi State's women student-athletes after her talk on campus March 19 for Women's History Month. — University of Tennessee women’s athletics director emeritus **Joan Cronan,** third from left, visits with some of Pellissippi State’s women student-athletes after her talk on campus March 19 for Women’s History Month. Athletes are, from left, **Natalie Knight, Devyn Dunn** and **Keely Noe** from the women’s volleyball team and **Ava Smith** and **Paige Janoyan** from the women’s soccer team.

Joan Cronan was “a tomboy before it was cool to be a girl in sports.”

A Little League coach in her hometown of Opelousas, Louisiana, thwarted Cronan’s attempt to try out for baseball at 12, telling her, “Girls don’t play baseball.” She could be a manager or a cheerleader, but that wasn’t enough for Cronan.

“I knew then I wanted to be in the business of teaching women how to compete,” Cronan told Pellissippi State Community College students March 19 in a Women’s History Month event on the Hardin Valley Campus.

“My daddy said I could do anything, and it has been so much fun to live this journey,” she said.

Cronan coached the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team from 1968 to 1970. At the College of Charleston, she served as women’s athletics director and coached women’s basketball, tennis and volleyball from 1974 to 1983. She returned to UT as the women’s athletics director in 1983, a role she held until her retirement in 2012, when her title changed to women’s athletic director emeritus.

“Athletics was a male-dominated world, and I hated we had to have a law (Title IX) to make it right,” Cronan said. “I know Title IX is working when parents and grandparents want the same opportunities for their daughters and granddaughters that they want for their sons and grandsons.”

For all her accomplishments, including induction into seven halls of fame, Cronan said her grandest hope is that people can say she has made a difference in students’ lives.

Pellissippi State President L. Anthony Wise Jr., left, interviews Joan Cronan, University of Tennessee women's athletic director emeritus, for a "Conversation with a Legend" event March 19. — Pellissippi State President **L. Anthony Wise Jr.,** left, interviews **Joan Cronan,** University of Tennessee women’s athletic director emeritus, for a “Conversation with a Legend” event March 19.

“For the athletes in the room, one of the things athletics does best is teach you to lead,” Cronan said. “To be successful in life, you have to be competitive, you have to be able to communicate and you have to have confidence.”

Cronan encouraged students to build their confidence by learning as much as they can and seeking out a mentor or coach to help them along the way.

“The next time you have a win, think about why you won,” she said. “You had a goal, you were prepared, and someone helped you and trained you.”

Cronan praised Pellissippi State for adding competitive athletics in 2023 and said she’s pulling for the Panthers.

“What you all are doing is making history, and with that comes a lot of responsibility and accountability,” she said to student-athletes and coaches in the audience. “This is a golden opportunity.

“I want you to look back in 10 years and smile at what you did.”

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