Cinda Rankin’s impact on Washington and Lee athletics was wide-reaching and virtually immeasurable.
Rankin arrived at W&L in the spring of 1985 as W&L's first female athletic staff member and was charged with coordinating the University's women's athletic programs in tandem with the University's decision to co-educate in the fall of 1985. Rankin was responsible for recruiting the University's first female athletes and helped transform W&L's women's athletics program into one of the best in Division III.
Rankin added responsibilities as the school’s women's tennis coach in 1989, serving as co-head coach, before taking over the reins herself in 1990.
In 19 seasons as head coach, Rankin led the program to new heights, posting a 383-57 (.871) record and winning 17 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships. She was named the ODAC Coach of the Year 11 times and guided the Generals to 15 NCAA Tournaments, including 14 in a row from 1994-2007.
A three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Coach of the Year honoree, Rankin led W&L to at least the NCAA Semifinals each of her final six seasons and her teams played in the NCAA Championship match five times before winning the school's second national title, and first by a women's sport, during the 2007 season.
In addition to team success, Rankin's student-athletes also achieved on an individual level. Two of her players, Emily Applegate ’07 and Lindsay Hagerman Sibal ’05, won the NCAA Division III Singles Championship. Additionally, the tandem of Marilyn Baker ’95 and Natalia Garcia Miller ’98 took the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Rankin coached 16 players to a total of 50 All-America citations, with Baker and Hagerman Sibal garnering National Player of the Year honors.
Hagerman Sibal and Erika Proko Hamilton ‘03 were also named finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year, while Katie Kingsbury Gritter ’07 received the NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship in 2007.
Rankin's players also produced off the court. Her teams consistently ranked among the best at W&L in team GPA and numerous individuals were selected as ITA Academic All-Americans. Many others were recognized for their sportsmanship and community service activities on campus and beyond.
