Helen McCallOne of the most effective pioneers in girls’ sports, the late Helen McCall was instrumental in the formation of the Colorado Coaches’ of Girls Sports (CCGS).
She developed the concept for CCGS while on sabbatical from Westminster and attending the University of Denver. She held many positions in CCGS over the years, including president, vice president, basketball chair, Title IX committee chair and edited the organization’s Coaches Comment newsletter.
As a coach, her teams enjoyed success on the floor, finishing second in the state basketball tournament in 1976 and third in 1978. She coached for Ranum and Westminster at the high school level, but also coached women’s sports at the University of Denver. She was the CCGS All-State Girls’ Basketball Coach in 1979.
She is credited as one of the key persons to spearhead the sanctioning of girls’ sports by the CHSAA.
In addition, McCall served on numerous CHSAA committees in the 1970s. She served on the first girls’ basketball committee and sex equity committee.
She was the leader in the Skyline League in the 1960s and 1970s in organizing and establishing “play days’ opportunities for girls prior to CHSAA sanctioning. She was awarded Skyline Coach of the Year several times during this period.
McCall was chair of the Division of Girls’ and Women’s Sports in the National Coaches Association throughout the 1970s.
McCall was awarded the coveted Dorothy Mauk Award by the Sportswomen of Colorado in 1986 and was instrumental in creating the Rocky Mountain League for Women’s Athletics when she moved on to coach and teach at the University of Denver.
After leaving Colorado, McCall worked in parks and recreation for Santa Rosa Beach, Fl. Following her death, the city dedicated public ballpark in her honor.
