CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The TSSAA honored Pam Whitfield recently for her work as a former Clarksville High coach and educator – specifically, her role as a Title IX trailblazer throughout Montgomery County. The Clarksville City Council also highlighted the achievement earlier this month, and awarded Whitfield a certificate of recognition.
Whitfield’s relationship with sport began at an early stage in her life. According to the TSSAA, Whitfield graduated from Cheatham County High School, where she played girl’s basketball. Basketball was one of two sports available for girls at the time. Whitfield played with Pat Head Summit in high school and college. TSSAA details that the two developed a lifelong friendship from their experiences together.
After high school, Whitfield attended University of Tennessee-Martin where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English, Physical Education and Health. Whitfield continued her education and received her master’s as a reading specialist in 1979.
During that same year, she accepted a position at Clarksville High School. This is where her role as a Title IX trailblazer began. She was hired as an English teacher and joined the girl’s basketball team as an assistant.
Title IX trailblazer
It was clear to Whitfield that boys and girls sports weren’t on an even playing field when she began working in the school district. She told the TSSAA that it was evident girls sports always came secondary.
One of the challenges Whitfield faced throughout the beginning of her career was facility use. She fought for her team’s ability to spend more time playing and practicing each season. From this point forward, Whitfield attended every board meeting to express her concerns.
Whitfield brought fast-pitch softball to Clarksville High. The high school only provided the softball team with uniforms as the sport originated. The team didn’t even initially receive a field with bases to practice and play on.
According to the TSSAA, it wasn’t until a representative from the state Department of Education came and saw the disparities between the baseball and softball team that they received a new field to play on. With their new field, this marked the first-ever softball field in the Montgomery County area.
Whitfield had other accomplishments such as fighting for Clarksville High to put lights on the softball field, and she lent a helping hand to students whenever needed. According to the TSSAA, Whitfield retired from coaching in 2008 and teaching in 2017.
“Coach Whitfield is a large part of the Clarksville community,” said Clarksville High Athletic Director Shannon Cummings. “She not only improved the CHS athletic landscape, she touched many lives in Wildcat Country for multiple decades. We are blessed to have her support our Wildcats, as she continues to attend many CHS games and events.”