Cronan worked 29 years as the Women’s Athletic Director at
Tennessee from 1983 to 2012. Also, was the Athletics Director at
the College of Charleston for 10 years.
In 1969, she coached the Women’s Basketball team at Tennessee
and led the team to the fi rst-ever National Invitational Collegiate
Basketball Tournament.
She was the fi rst recipient of the NCAA President’s Pat Summitt
Award in 2017
Joan Cronan won the Women of Achievement Award: “Women who
make a difference” by the International Women’s Forum in 2009.
She served in many organizations including president of the NACDA,
president of NACWAA, NCAA’s executive committee, US Sports
Academy board of Trustees, president of the Tennessee Sports Hall
of Fame and president of the Executive Women’s Association.
Cronan was inducted into LSU’s Alumni Hall of distinction in 1995
and won the WBCA leadership award in 1987.
