Colleges and universities around the country continue to increase the number of women’s athletics teams, according to an ongoing study, "Women in Intercollegiate Sport," by R. Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter. But women are not gaining in coaching and administrative positions.

In 1996, schools offered an average of 7.53 sports for women, up from 7.27 in 1995 and up from 5.61 in 1978, the first year the study was conducted.

"The success of the Title IX lawsuits has prompted schools to add more teams," said Carpenter. "And some of the younger athletic directors are more supportive of equity than their predecessors." Title IX is the federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in federally-funded educational institutions, including athletics programs.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the percentage of intercollegiate athletes who are women also went up — to 37%, from 35% in 1993.

However, the Acosta and Carpenter study shows that the percentage of women coaches of women’s teams has dropped to 47.7%, from 49.4% in 1994, and from 90% in 1972. In addition, the percentage of women head athletic directors of women’s athletics programs has dropped to 18.5%, from 21% in 1994, and from 90% in 1972. Virtually no women coach men’s teams or head men’s athletics departments.

The gender of the athletic director directly affects the number of women coaches who are hired for women’s teams. For schools with women athletic directors, 55.8% of women’s teams had women head coaches. For schools with men athletic directors, only 45.6% of the women’s teams had women head coaches.

For a copy of the study send a #10 self-addressed stamped envelope with 55 cents postage to: Carpenter/Acosta, Dept. of P.E., Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY 11210.