WICHITA – Newman Athletics announced Friday that Sister Diane Leary, CSJ (April 28, 1934-December 10, 2019), former coach and Director of Athletics will be recognized as the institution's Title IX Champion as the MIAA celebrates 50 years of Title IX at the 2023 MIAA Basketball Championships presented by Southern Bank.

All 14 MIAA Institutions have selected and will honor their individual champions on campus and during the MIAA Basketball Championships. The recognition comes as Sister Diane made a career of advocating for women's sports, winning on and off the court for her teams.

Sister Diane was considered a "trailblazer" over her three-decade career as coach and athletic director. Prior to her time at Newman, Sister Diane worked in the Athletics Department at St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1983, she was named Director of Athletics and was the first woman to hold that title at the college level in the state of Kansas. In the 1991-92 season 5 of the 7 teams at St. Mary's of the plains won or shared KCAC titles and Sister Diane was named in NAIA Administrator of the Year.

St. Mary's closed in 1996, bringing Sister to Kansas Newman College, now Newman University where she coached volleyball, taught history and later was named Director of Athletics. After posting a record of 150-61 and 724-323 overall, Leary served as athletics director from 1999-2002.

Wichita Eagle sportswriter, Adam Knapp wrote, "Perhaps no individual in Kansas has done more for women's athletics than Sr. Diane Leary."

Sister Diane Leary was named to the Newman Athletics Hall of Fame Inaugural Class in 2007 and received the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa at the Newman University Fall 2012 Commencement.

Sister Diane will be recognized at Saturday's home finale at halftime of the women's game. All former players are invited to attend. Tip-off against Central Oklahoma is slated for 1:30 PM.