New York Amsterdam News

Harvard tennis coach Traci Green named president of the Black Women in Sport Foundation

by LOIS ELFMAN, September 12, 2024

Before Harvard University women’s tennis kicks off its season this weekend with the Harvard Fall Classic, head coach Traci Green headed to her hometown of Philadelphia to officially become president of the Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF). The torch was passed on Sept. 9 at Citizens Bank Park during a Philadelphia Phillies game. Green’s mother, Tina Sloan Green, who will now have the title of president emerita, co-founded the BWSF in 1992 with Dr. Nikki Franke and Dr. Alpha Alexander.

“I grew up seeing the BWSF do amazing things,” said Green. “To take the reins and lead it in a solid direction for the next few years truly is an honor.”

The mission of the BWSF has included introducing Black girls to non-traditional sports. Sloan Green coached field hockey and lacrosse and Temple University while Franke coached fencing. Green is focused on fundraising to make sure the foundation can continue its grassroots efforts. She will also work on developing new programming that exposes Black women and girls to a variety of sports. “Visibility has always been a major focus of ours,” Green said. “Visibility will be at the forefront of my agenda. … The more visibility we can help promote for women of color in coaching roles and in all facets of sports careers, that is a goal of ours.”

Green credits her parents and the late tennis great Arthur Ashe with emphasizing the importance of education. That perspective has helped her thrive as a college coach. She is now in her 16th season at Harvard, where she has the title of Sheila Kelly Palandjian Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Tennis.

“Being a role model and developing other role models is super important,” Green said. “I feel so many people look up to me because there aren’t very many [women like] me in these types of roles that I am currently in. Whatever I can do to give back, influence and uplift anyone who is trying to be on a similar career path, I want to do that. I’m also open to reverse mentoring (students sharing knowledge with her).”

This fall, the NCAA is piloting a new program for Division I tennis. Fall play will culminate with a national championship in singles and doubles. Spring play will be solely focused on the team and will end with the annual NCAA Championship for teams.

Original Article Source: https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2024/09/12/harvard-tennis-coach-traci-green-president-of-bwsf/?fbclid=IwY2xjawG7AlVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbe3hckerJXvxnnscCN26MzKuxBR5u0GjcSl8IwRudXdZSf89FS3RdLMWg_aem_f01VOkBLkf9YokZq_pAD9w&sfnsn=mo