About Inductee

Betty Austin, a native of Huntsville, AL, attended Buckhorn High School. After graduating from Buckhorn, she attended Alabama A&M University earning her BS in Health and Physical Education in 1973. After obtaining her Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Michigan in 1975, she returned to Huntsville and took a job at A&M as a secretary in the School of Business. Betty was selected in 1977 by the University's President and Athletic Director to be the coordinator of women's sports. At this time, the only established sports for women at A&M were track and field and tennis. Hence, Betty had to create the basketball and volleyball programs. Even though she could secure equipment and schedules, she could not secure coaches for the program. She decided she would take on the task of coaching. In the fall of 1977, Betty became the first official coach of the Alabama A&M women's volleyball and basketball teams, in addition to serving as the coordinator of women's sports and teaching three classes. After four years, she gave up basketball and focused on serving just the volleyball program full time. In 1987, Betty's team won the first ever SIAC Volleyball Tournament title and ended the season with a 33-10 record. During Betty's time in the SIAC, her teams posted an impressive 284-86 record; they won 11 straight Conference titles and she was named Coach of the Year for each of these 11 years. Following the 1996 season, the University decided to join the NCAA Division 1/SWAC ranks. Since 1999, the first year of Division 1/SWAC eligibility, Betty has posted a 170-53 record, six consecutive SWAC Tournament Championships (2000-2005), and six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as well as six SWAC Coach of the Year awards. Betty ended the 2006 volleyball season, her 30th season, with a career record of 604-235 which ranks her among the best in the NCAA active coaches. She also reached the 600-win plateau to become only the 12th Division 1 coach in the sport's history to reach 600 career wins. She is currently listed with the top 15 of active coaches in wins in Division 1 women's volleyball. Along with her coaching responsibilities, Betty is now serving as the school's interim Athletic Director.