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Josie Harper ‘65
Historic Achievement in Athletic Administration
Hometown: Media, PA
High School: Penncrest

A 1965 graduate of West Chester State College, JoAnn (Josie) Harper has been a prominent figure in collegiate athletics and a highly regarded coach throughout her career.

After taking over the role of senior associate director of athletics at Dartmouth College in 1999, Harper made history on July 1, 2002, by becoming the Director of Athletics and Recreation at the institution. It marked the first time in the history of Dartmouth or The Ivy League that a woman had earned such a high-ranking position.

Harper joined the Dartmouth staff in July of 1981 as the head women’s lacrosse coach. In 1987 she assumed additional responsibilities as the assistant director of athletics for intercollegiate programs, then in 1990 she was promoted to associate director of athletics while continuing her coaching career.

Harper relinquished her coaching duties in June of 1992 to concentrate full-time on her growing administrative responsibilities. In 11 seasons she led her teams to an 88-69 overall record and a 37-28 Ivy League mark. She guided Dartmouth to Ivy League championships in 1986 and 1987, an ECAC Division I title in 1988, and into the NCAA Tournament in 1983.

Harper has also figured prominently as a lacrosse coach on the national and international scene. In 1986 she coached the U.S. World Cup team, while in 1982 she assisted with the squad that won the World Championship in England.
She was inducted into the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in June of 2000 and the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame in February of 2002. In November of 2003, Harper was inducted into the Sturzebecker Foundation Hall of Fame at West Chester University. She was also selected the Division I-AA Administrator of the Year by the NACWAA (National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators) in October of 2000.