The Washington University Athletic Department lost one of its mainstays on July 24 when Lynn Imergoot lost control of her car outside of New York City and struck a tree. She was 60 years old and had been with the University for 37 years.

“I’ll remember her as a wonderful teacher, coach, administrator, mother, friend and valued member of the Washington University community,” Athletic Director John Schael said.

Imergoot, most recently the associate director of club and intramural sports, started work at the University in 1973 as the director of women’s and co-ed intramurals, a post she held until 1979. She also served in the administration as coordinator for women’s athletics from 1977-84 and assistant athletic director from 1984-2005.

Aside from her work behind a desk, Imergoot will be most remembered as the first and longtime coach of the women’s tennis team, a post she held from 1975-2005. During her 30-year tenure as coach, the Bears compiled a record of 435-164 (.726) and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Six players also earned seven All-America distinctions during that time.

“Establishing and coaching the initial women’s tennis program was a great accomplishment for Lynn, as there were few opportunities for women’s participation in intercollegiate athletics,” Schael said. “She was, in a sense, a pioneer and indeed strong advocate for the advancement of women’s athletics on the Danforth Campus and was proud of Washington University’s commitment to enhanced opportunities for women in sport.”

“You have to have people who open doors, and I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to work with someone that helped me develop as a coach and as a woman administrator. She gave guidance, and I always will appreciate that,” said Nancy Fahey, coach for the women’s basketball team since 1986 and the senior woman administrator.

In addition to starting the women’s tennis program, Imergoot helped Schael and the athletics department introduce cross country, indoor track, basketball, soccer, softball and golf as women’s varsity programs. The University now has one more women’s varsity program than men’s program with the 2008 addition of women’s golf.

“We grew up in a time when we went to college and you had to look around to find varsity athletics for women, because not all colleges had them. When they did, they were coached by grad students, not graduated professors. So the fact that she started the program here, she was a pioneer in women’s athletics,” said Martha Tillman, current director of the South 40 Fitness Center and former swim team coach from 1979-99.

While the winning seasons and NCAA Tournament berths show that Imergoot knew how to coach a team to victory, Tillman and Fahey emphasized that Imergoot applied her coaching far beyond pushing for a win.

“She looked at everything as a way to teach lifelong lessons—the way you look at things, the way you deal with things. I think she looked at every opportunity as an opportunity to teach,” Tillman said.

“Lynn wasn’t just one-dimensional. Whether it was interaction with her players as a coach, whether it was her association with the intramural department, she touched a lot of different lives here in a lot of different ways. I think that’s what makes someone special,” Fahey said.

The accident occurred while Imergoot was driving from a summer sports camp to a scheduled dentist appointment.

She is survived by her son Douglas, 31, daughter Jennifer, 28, granddaughter Tamia, 9, and sister Amy Kossak. Imergoot was laid to rest in Deans, N.J., on July 27. A memorial service is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. in Graham Chapel.

1 Comments

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  On August 24, 2009 at 8:21 pm Jennifer H. Imergoot said

  I am so honored to have had the pleasure of having “Lynn” as my Mom. As great of a coach and athletic director she was, she was an even BETTER Mother….as awesome of a friend she was to so many people, she was an even COOLER Nana to my daughter, Tamia…..I am so thankful for the kind words about my Mom, and she will be remembered by me (and apparently everyone else who knew her) as an incredibly kind-hearted person who left my family and I way too soon. Thank you all for letting me share in your wonderful memories….
  Mom, I love you….
  Jennifer

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Tags: athletic department, car crash, lynn imergoot, washington university

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