Charlotte West enshrined in MVC Hall of Fame

Charlotte West, a national pioneer in women's athletics during her 42-year tenure as SIUC coach, faculty member and administrator, is one of four new inductees into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.

Former SIUC associate athletics director Charlotte West, a national pioneer in women’s athletics during her 42-year tenure at the University, was enshrined in the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame last week. She is the fifth person to receive the MVC’s Lifetime Achievement award.

West, who retired as SIUC's associate athletics director in 1998, was inducted in the 2004-05 class,the eighth in the conference, during last week's Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament celebration in St. Louis.

West is the fifth person to be honored in the MVC's Lifetime Achievement category.

She began her faculty career at the University in 1957 as an instructor in the department of physical education. She became a full professor in 1973 and developed SIUC's graduate program in sports management, which she directed until June 1991.

From 1960 until 1986, West was director of intercollegiate athletics for women. She helped transform the department from its meager beginnings -- when bake sales and car washes were a major source of funding -- into a nationally recognized program with a budget of more than $1 million for 11 sports. After the 1986 merger of the men's and women's athletics departments, West served as associate athletics director for one year, interim director for a year and associate athletics director for 10 years.

She is the recipient of many campus and regional honors, and is known nationally for her work in the governance of intercollegiate athletics, particularly her efforts for women in sports.

West received numerous national honors, including being the first recipient of the Honda Award, a national honor given for outstanding achievement in women's collegiate athletics. West was the first recipient of the Woman Administrator of the Year award from the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. The Missouri Valley Conference annually makes an award in her name, recognizing student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The women's softball stadium was named in West's honor in February 2003.