Video Links:
Induction Speech
Hall of Fame Video
1-on-1 with Judy Devine
Judy Devine, Kent State (Administration)
Judy Devine has been a champion for student athletes throughout her career at Kent State and her commitment for equity for all continues to shape the culture and policies within the Kent State athletic department. She is considered the matriarch of Kent State athletics.
Devine played five varsity sports in college, earning 18 letters, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Colorado State in 1969 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education and earned her Master’s in Health and Physical Education from Kent State in 1970.
Devine served as Kent State’s assistant coach in women’s basketball (1969-72), field hockey (1969-70) and softball (1969-70) before becoming women’s head basketball coach (1972-77), head field hockey coach (1970-80) and head women’s athletic trainer (1969-75).
When the men’s and women’s athletic programs merged in 1975, Devine was selected as an Assistant Athletics Director and was elevated to Associate Athletics Director in 1978. She retired from her post as Senior Associate Athletics Director in 2000 following 31 years of service in numerous roles within the athletic department. Her Emeritus status was conferred by the Kent State Board of Trustees in 2000 as at the time of her retirement she coordinated all student athlete services including financial aid, housing, awards, academic performance, compliance and eligibility.
She also served on many institutional, conference and NCAA committees during her career including: the Kent State National Athletic Development Committee (1998-2013), Kent State Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee (1984-present), Co-Chair Kent State Women’s Athletic Centennial Celebration (2009-10), Kent State Women’s Center Advisory Board (2011-present), Kent State Title IX Compliance Self Study Committee (2012-present), Chair of the MAC Senior Administrators Committee (1995-2000), Vice Chair of the NCAA Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (1997-2000), Chair of the NCAA ACE Cabinet Subcommittee on Continuing Eligibility (1997-2000), NCAA DI Working Group to Study Basketball Issues (1998-2000), NCAA DI Working Group to Study Eligibility and Financial Aid (1998-2000) and Founder and Emcee for the Kent State Athletic Academic Honors Dinner (1982-2000) and was honored as the Kent State Commencement Speaker in August, 2010.
Devine was inducted in the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society and was awarded the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Inspiration Award in 1992. She received the Ohio House of Representatives Special Recognition Award (2000) and Ohio Senate Special Recognition Award (2000), was named the first female recipient of the Kent State Varsity K Alumni Association ‘Person of the Year’ (2000) and inducted into the Kent State Athletic Hall of Fame (2003).
In 2012, Devine was one of 25 candidates nationwide for the Title IX Trailblazer Award, which honored individuals who made significant contributions in the area of gender equity. In 2014, she was awarded Kent State’s Diversity Trailblazer Award for her contributions of diversity to the university community.
Devine has provided a permanent endowment for the Kent State Athletic Academic Honors Dinner and provided the lead gift for the Athletic Academic Resource Center expansion. In addition, her creation of the Athletic Equity Endowment brings her contributions to Kent State to more than $1.4 million.
Devine retired from Kent State in 2000 and is a Senior Associate Athletics Director and Professor, Emeritus at Kent State and Adjunct Professor at Malone University. She resides in Uniontown, Ohio.
