DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Induction Year: 2018

Joanne Marie Cassel Chaney was born on March 22, 1939 to Paul and Grace Cassel in Canton, Ohio.  She grew up in Canton attending Canton McKinley High School and then Kent State University, where she received her degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 1963.

While at KSU she played varsity basketball, field hockey, and volleyball.  During this time one must remember that women’s varsity sports were not recognized as such.

As a small girl, Joanne, wanted to learn more about sports so her father, who is in the Canton Softball Hall of Fame, taught her how to handle a softball and basketball and to keep score for him while he officiated different sports.

Again remember during the 60’s girls basketball was played on a divided floor – offense on one half of the floor and defense on the other half of the floor, allowing only two ball bounces at a time each girl.  She played her one big game in high school and was top scorer each year for three years.  She captained her senior year.  The big memory game in basketball in college was the opportunity to play OSU on their campus.

One week after graduation, 1964, she married Gary Dean Chaney, 1956 Tecumseh graduate. They moved to Portland, Oregon where she taught physical education for two years.

In 1967 the family, now including Cindy, moved back to Ohio and settled in New Carlisle forever.  Mark came in 1969.  Joanne took up substitute teaching and spending her free time organizing girls’ softball in the city.  In 1983 she began coaching freshmen girls’ basketball at Tecumseh.  She moved up to junior varsity in her eighth year with a record of 17-3. Because she wasn’t a full time teacher her basketball coaching years came to an end.

During this time, Doug Chaffins, who was athletic director gave Joanne the opportunity to start the Tecumseh women’s soccer program. That first year, the team used two boys’ old soccer balls, practiced on an empty field, played several soccer clubs while wearing thrown away boys basketball uniforms.

Joanne does want to thank Mr. Chaffins and the girls who played to give a future to girls’ soccer at Tecumseh.

Girls and women’s sports have come a long way – now being recognized equal to boys’ sports. In basketball, we even moved our home games, with other schools, into Reynolds Gym.

Tecumseh scorekeeping came available at this time and for the next ten plus years she kept volleyball and basketball scoring for Tecumseh.

Joanne finally received her varsity letter from KSU in 2013 for basketball and field hockey. Women sports are now recognized.

Many thanks go to her family and those who supported her during the past fifty years. There are many, many others she would like to thank: students, families, and her family and friends. In order not to miss anyone she won’t list names but her memories are great and many.

Is there a legacy for women’s sports? Of course there is because she has one granddaughter in K-running events, another playing soccer on scholarship at Notre Dame, Cleveland, Ohio and another granddaughter playing softball on scholarship at Ohio Christian University (Tecumseh graduate). You folks also have girls playing sports. Enjoy each girl for time does moves on.

Joanne also thanks the Tecumseh Athletic Hall of Fame for allowing her to express her memories.  To each and all “Thanks for the Memories.”