Dr. Peggy Pruitt was a key figure in the Ohio athletic department from 1975-2001. She started her career as a Women’s Athletics Coordinator/Senior Woman Administrator as well as the head coach for field hockey and tennis. She coached field hockey until 1978, when she was named the Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator and continued to coach tennis until 1982. Pruitt held that title until 1993, when she became the Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator. She remained in that position until she retired in 2001.
During her twenty-six year career with Ohio Athletics, Pruitt played an integral role in the department’s growth and was focused on providing positive experiences for all student-athletes. Three women’s programs, Soccer, Golf and Lacrosse, were added to the number of sports sponsored by Ohio Athletics during Pruitt’s tenure. Dr. Pruitt had sport oversight responsibilities for various men’s and women’s sport programs and the student-athlete support departments. Today, Ohio University’s field hockey team plays on Pruitt Field, which was completed in 1999 and named in her honor.
Pruitt earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Kentucky and her PhD in Physical Education Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Ohio athletic department, Pruitt coached basketball and taught physical education at Cowpens (S.C.) Middle School and High School.
