Dr. Anne E. Irwin, Hope College’s first director of women’s athletics and an unfailing advocate for gender equity in college sports, died on Saturday, April 3 at her home in Fennville, Michigan, after a battle with cancer. She was 79.

It was her wish to be cremated and interred at the Fennville Cemetery without a memorial or funeral service.

Irwin arrived at Hope in 1976 at a time of watershed change in college athletics, as Title IX – the mandate that required the equal treatment of men and women at federally funded educational institutions – had been passed in 1972. She had previously been a professor and coach at Queens College in New York City, where she also headed up a Title IX Committee. 

Anne Irwin Photo Gallery
  • A black and white photo of a women's sports team huddling, with "Hope" visible on the back of one player's jacket. The team members are gathered around a coach, who appears to be giving instructions. The players are wearing jerseys with numbers, including 23 and 20.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Anne E. Irwin with the Hope College women's basketball team in a gymnasium. The team is posed in two rows, with five players kneeling in the front and six players standing behind them. A basketball is placed in front of the kneeling players. The women are wearing matching uniforms consisting of collared shirts, shorts, and knee-high socks.
  • Black and white photograph of Hope College women's field hockey team from the late 1970s. The group consists of eighteen young women and one older woman, presumably Dr. Anne E. Irwin, standing on the far left. The team members are dressed in uniform shirts, some with "Hope Women's Athletics" printed on them, and are either standing or sitting on the grass, holding field hockey sticks. The background shows a clear sky and sparse vegetation.
  • A black and white photo of Dr. Anne E. Irwin and a female athlete holding a trophy in a brick-walled indoor sports facility. Several other people are in the background, some wearing sports clothing and one person operating a video camera.
  • Black and white photo of four women from Hope College's softball team standing outdoors. They are smiling and holding a championship trophy. Three of them are wearing dark uniforms with "HOPE" written on the front, and the woman second from the left is wearing a light-colored sweatshirt with "HOPE COLLEGE SOFTBALL" printed on it. There are trees and a building visible in the background.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Anne E. Irwin, wearing a cable-knit sweater and leaning on a desk in an office. The desk has papers and a tin of peanuts. Behind her, a bulletin board displays photos and cards, including a picture of two kittens and various sports photos.
  • A group of people, including Hope College's first director of women's athletics Dr. Anne E. Irwin, holding a banner that reads "M.I.A.A. ALL SPORTS" in a black and white photograph.
  • A group of women athletes and a coach celebrate on a sports field; one woman holds a hockey stick and raises her arm in triumph. The coach, wearing sunglasses and a whistle, walks towards them, smiling. Other individuals in the background clap and cheer.
  • A vintage team photo of Hope College’s women’s field hockey team posing outdoors on a grassy field. The team consists of 25 women dressed in uniforms of blue and white with red accents, some standing and others sitting on the ground, holding field hockey sticks. Trees and a fence are visible in the background.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Anne E. Irwin shaking hands with a woman on crutches during a public event at Hope College. The audience in the background is clapping. A microphone is visible on the left side of the image.
  • Black and white photo of two women standing side by side, both wearing jackets with the word "Hope" on them. The woman in the foreground has short hair and is looking to the left, while the woman in the background has longer hair and is also looking in the same direction.
  • Black and white photo of Dr. Anne E. Irwin standing on a softball field, wearing a "Hope" jersey and clapping her hands. She has short hair and appears to be encouraging or coaching.
  • A woman kneels on a basketball court, smiling and holding a basketball with both hands. She is wearing glasses, a sweater, and pants. In the background, a group of people are engaged in activities on the court.
  • Four people standing together outdoors, all smiling and wearing casual clothing. One woman and three men are holding a large gold trophy. The woman and one man are wearing orange shirts, another man is wearing a white shirt and a blue cap, and the third man is also wearing an orange shirt. Bleachers and other people are visible in the background.
  • Anne Irwin and a man stand together on a softball field, smiling. The man holds a microphone and a wooden plaque. The scoreboard in the background reads "FLYING DUTCH." Both are wearing jackets, and there is a covered object next to them.

At Hope, she immediately began to enhance the women’s athletics program – which consisted of seven sports at the time – while keeping the men’s program strong.

“Anne was a pioneer for women at Hope,” said Tim Schoonveld, director of athletics. “We all owe her a debt of gratitude for what she accomplished. Her work helped put our entire program on a national playing field for reputation and excellence.”

Over her years, Hope’s women’s teams grew to 10 — and its participants more than three-fold — at the time of her retirement in 2003. While she administrated, she coached, too – as head coach of women’s basketball (1976 to 1979), softball (1977 to 1987), and field hockey (1979 to 1980) and as assistant coach of women’s soccer and volleyball. Her 1980 field hockey team and her 1981 women’s softball team won the State of Michigan Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championships, the first-ever titles in women’s team sports at Hope. (The AIAW was the only organization offering athletic governance and postseason championships for college women at the time; the NCAA began to do so in 1982.)

Also, during her tenure, Hope won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Commissioner’s Cup 17 times over 23 years (1981-82 thru 2003-04). In 1998-99, the MIAA instituted the Women’s All-Sports award. It was claimed by Hope College five of the next six years before Irwin’s retirement.

Irwin held the rank of professor of kinesiology as well. She taught anatomical kinesiology, biomechanics, Health Dynamics and other upper-level courses in the department. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Michigan and master’s and doctoral degrees in biomechanics from Michigan State University.

Her impact on Hope extended outside of the intercollegiate athletics program. Irwin also developed the college’s intramural program that grew to serve 50% of the student body (more than 1,500) by the time she retired. When she took it over, approximately 300 Hope students took part.

Irwin brought solid credentials to Hope as both a competitor and a teacher-coach. The softball team she had coached while doing graduate work at Michigan State University went on to win the College World Series. She had competed regionally in volleyball and field hockey, and nationally in fast-pitch softball and basketball.

Even in retirement she stayed involved in the college, teaching biomechanics and assisting with the intramural program for one more year, and serving as a bus driver In Hope’s transportation department until 2015. In 2008, the college named the press box at the Wolters Softball Stadium in her honor.

Irwin is survived by her partner of 31 years, Kay Zuris; brother, Dr. Charles F. Irwin, and sister, Emily Jean Irwin as well as six nieces and nephews (Emrick Lordan, Stephen Irwin, John Irwin, Meghan Fuller, Parker Reed and Andrew Wasuwongse).

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