Two years have passed since the start of women’s basketball in the athletics department and the journey through 50 years continues. We now take a look at the next 22 with Sharon Fanning and Craig Parrott.
In 1976, Sharon Cable Fanning was named the Chattanooga women’s basketball head coach. During her tenure, the team nicknamed changed from Mocettes to Lady Mocs and won, unofficially, the first five Southern Conference titles.
Fanning recorded 193 wins in 11 seasons, with a winning record in nine, and a national runner-up finish. The 1983-84 team claimed the first official Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles. Despite being a member of the NCAA, the Lady Mocs did advance to the postseason tournament because not all conferences earned an automatic bid.
Chattanooga, ranked 19th in the AP Top 20 Poll, went to the National Women’s Invitation Tournament (NWIT) and took down Clemson and Oklahoma before falling to Vanderbilt by one point (67-66) in the final.
Her success in Chattanooga led her to more opportunities. She went on to Kentucky and later Mississippi State where she retired in the spring of 2012.
Craig Parrott became Fanning’s assistant coach in the middle of the 1986-87 season and would be given the chance to lead Chattanooga upon her departure. He led the Lady Mocs for 11 seasons.
In 1989, Parrott’s team won the SoCon Tournament crown, beating Western Carolina, Appalachian State and Furman. That team became the first team in Southern Conference history to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In 1992 UTC went back to the NCAA Tournament and nearly upset Clemson, falling 76-72.
50 Seasons of Greatness, An Oral History of Chattanooga Women’s Basketball
Nov. 9: Episode One: Coach Grace Keith
Nov. 16: Episode Two: Coaches Sharon Fanning and Craig Parrott
Nov. 23: Episode Three: Coach Wes Moore
Nov. 30: Episode Four: Coaches Jim Foster, Katie Burrows and Shawn Poppie
THIS WEEK IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HISTORY
Catch up on the previous 49 years of women’s basketball with a weekly look back into the history of Chattanooga women’s basketball. Follow along on GoMocs.com, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram every Monday.
Week 1: November 12 – 18
TITLE IX ENABLES WOMEN EQUALITY IN SPORT
In 1972 Congress enacted the Title IX of the Education Amendments stating: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
50 SEASONS OF CHATTANOOGA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The 2023 season for the Chattanooga women’s basketball team marks a major landmark for the program and the university, as UTC women’s basketball officially celebrates its 50th season of competition as a university sponsored athletic program. Following the adoption of the Title IX legislation back in 1972, UTC added women’s basketball, tennis and volleyball programs to its roster of athletic teams, bringing on five decades of history and success for each of the teams. Chattanooga WBB will be putting on multiple promotions and content pieces throughout the 2023-24 season to celebrate the program’s history, culminating in the team hosting its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion during the Mocs’ February 3 matchup against Furman at McKenzie Arena.
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Follow @GoMocsWBK on Twitter & @gomocswbk on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga women’s basketball.