Carol Eckman

• Commonly referred to as the “Mother of National Collegiate Championships”
• Established the first National Invitational Women’s Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament in 1969, hosting a 16-team tourney at West Chester State College, which served as a catalyst in the formation of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW)
• Served as the head women’s basketball coach at West Chester State College from 1967 to 1972
• Also coached one season at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1973) and four years at Lock Haven State College (1974-1977)
• Guided West Chester to an undefeated season and the title of that first National Invitational Tournament in 1969
• Recipient of the AIAW Merit Award for Leadership in 1982