Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1990
Laurie Massa held a lot of roles during her time at Xavier: Associate Athletic Director (1991-1993), Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Athletics (1979-1991); First Full-Time Coordinator of Women's Athletics at Xavier (1986-1993); Former Vice President of the MCC and Chair of the MCC's Women's Athletic Committee; Member of Xavier Athletic Board (1978-1993); Member of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee; Head Women's Basketball Coach (1976-1986); Head Women's Volleyball Coach (1976-1979); Director of Intramurals (1979-80); Assistant Director of Student Activities (1977-79).
Massa, who was promoted in 1991 to Associate Athletic Director, was an integral part of the tremendous growth in Xavier Athletics, particularly the area of women's athletics, since coming to Xavier in 1976 as head women's basketball coach and volleyball coach.
In her first season as volleyball coach, Massa guided XU to a 5-11 record. Then the program began to take off, compiling records of 9-7, 9-3, and 20-15. Massa turned over the volleyball reins in 1980 to Carolyn Condit, allowing her to concentrate on her duties as Assistant Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach.
During Massa's ten years as head basketball coach, the Musketeers compiled a 98-145 mark. The high point came in the 1981-82 season as she guided XU to a 20-14 record and the OAIAW State Title. The 20 wins were a Musketeer record until Xavier went 21-9 and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1992-93.
Massa signed Karen Ohe, the Musketeers' fifth all-time leading rebounder, in 1979 to the first women's basketball scholarship at Xavier. She also signed Jo Ann Osterkamp, Musketeer third all-time leading scorer.
Progress is the key word to describe women's athletics, particularly basketball and volleyball, during Massa's tenure. Massa moved the basketball, volleyball and tennis teams into AIAW's Division II in 1979 and into NCAA Division I in 1982. The swim team has moved from Division III in 1979 to NCAA Division I in 1982.
Three new women's sports, soccer, cross country and golf, were added after Massa took over women's athletics at XU.
Massa led the women's athletic program into the North Star Conference in 1983. In 1986, XU dropped out of the North Star to join the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Xavier fields 8 Division I women's sports (basketball, cross country, track& field,golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball), which all competed in the MCC and now are apart of the Atlantic 10 with the exception of women's golf.
Massa, who has served on the Athletic Board since 1978, has been very active in promoting women's athletics. She oversaw the Women's Athletic Campaign, a drive to raise money for women's athletics at Xavier.
Massa joined the Xavier athletic family after her graduation from Quincy College in Illinois. She began as XU's volleyball and women's basketball coach while pursuing her master's degree in physical education, which she completed in 1978.
Massa was very active in the development of women's athletics in the MCC. She served three years as the MCC's Vice President and Chair of the MCC Women's Athletic Committee. Massa also took over the important job of primary NCAA compliance and eligibility representative for all of XU Athletics. The native Cincinnatian is the sister of Gary Massa, a member of the Musketeer 1,000-Point Club.
