Dartmouth Legend, Former Director of Athletics and Recreation Josie Harper Passes Away
6/18/2024 9:43:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse, Athletics
The head women’s lacrosse position at Dartmouth is endowed in Harper’s name
HANOVER, N.H. — Josie Harper, former Ivy League Champion Lacrosse coach and Director of Athletics and Recreation, passed away over the weekend at the age of 81. She had been battling cancer. Harper was a lacrosse legend and 2006 inductee of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame, who continued to impact the lives of many in her role in administration — which included serving as the first female athletics director in the Ivy League.
Â
"It is a sad day for the Dartmouth community," said Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics. "Josie was a legend and her profound impact resonates through the lives of the many students, coaches, and colleagues she touched as athletics director, administrator, and coach at Dartmouth. When she sat in the Director of Athletics and Recreation chair here at Dartmouth, Josie worked passionately to better the Department and enhance the student-athlete experience. She was pivotal in bringing Buddy Teevens back to Dartmouth to serve as Head Football coach, flying out to meet with him and his wife Kirsten to convince them to come back to Hanover. My thoughts are with her family during this difficult time."
Â
A 1965 graduate of West Chester State, Harper came to Dartmouth in 1981 as the head women's lacrosse coach and assistant field hockey coach, while also teaching physical education. She went on to lead the Big Green to the program's first Ivy League Championships (in 1986 and 1987). In the international realm, she served as assistant coach for the first Women's Lacrosse World Cup in 1982 and went on to become head coach for the 1986 World Cup, which was played at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
Â
At Dartmouth, Harper coached lacrosse and worked in administration from 1990-92 before moving solely into administration from 1992-02. In 2002, she became the first-ever female director of athletics in the Ivy League.
"Josie was a friend and colleague who I admired long before I came to the Ivy League," said Robin Harris, executive director of the Ivy League. "She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, most notably as the first woman to serve as an Athletics Director in the Ivy League. As we celebrate the league's 50th anniversary of women's championships this year, we will have many opportunities to witness Josie's indelible impact and her influential legacy at Dartmouth, across the Ivy League and throughout all of college sports."
Â
Over her time, Harper was an advocate for equity, working with deputy AD Bob Ceplikas to combine the friends programs (such as Friends of Dartmouth Lacrosse, including both men's and women's programs under one umbrella). Another example was advocating in softball's fight to become varsity.
Â
In November of 2020, it was announced that the head women's lacrosse coach at Dartmouth would be endowed in Harper's name. The two anonymous donors were former players.
Â
Harper's life will be celebrated in Hanover in the fall. More information to come.
Â
To read more about Harper's legacy, please click here.
Â
Â
"It is a sad day for the Dartmouth community," said Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics. "Josie was a legend and her profound impact resonates through the lives of the many students, coaches, and colleagues she touched as athletics director, administrator, and coach at Dartmouth. When she sat in the Director of Athletics and Recreation chair here at Dartmouth, Josie worked passionately to better the Department and enhance the student-athlete experience. She was pivotal in bringing Buddy Teevens back to Dartmouth to serve as Head Football coach, flying out to meet with him and his wife Kirsten to convince them to come back to Hanover. My thoughts are with her family during this difficult time."
Â
A 1965 graduate of West Chester State, Harper came to Dartmouth in 1981 as the head women's lacrosse coach and assistant field hockey coach, while also teaching physical education. She went on to lead the Big Green to the program's first Ivy League Championships (in 1986 and 1987). In the international realm, she served as assistant coach for the first Women's Lacrosse World Cup in 1982 and went on to become head coach for the 1986 World Cup, which was played at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
Â
At Dartmouth, Harper coached lacrosse and worked in administration from 1990-92 before moving solely into administration from 1992-02. In 2002, she became the first-ever female director of athletics in the Ivy League.
"Josie was a friend and colleague who I admired long before I came to the Ivy League," said Robin Harris, executive director of the Ivy League. "She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, most notably as the first woman to serve as an Athletics Director in the Ivy League. As we celebrate the league's 50th anniversary of women's championships this year, we will have many opportunities to witness Josie's indelible impact and her influential legacy at Dartmouth, across the Ivy League and throughout all of college sports."
Â
Over her time, Harper was an advocate for equity, working with deputy AD Bob Ceplikas to combine the friends programs (such as Friends of Dartmouth Lacrosse, including both men's and women's programs under one umbrella). Another example was advocating in softball's fight to become varsity.
Â
In November of 2020, it was announced that the head women's lacrosse coach at Dartmouth would be endowed in Harper's name. The two anonymous donors were former players.
Â
Harper's life will be celebrated in Hanover in the fall. More information to come.
Â
To read more about Harper's legacy, please click here.
Â
2025 Dartmouth Football Positional Preview: Special Teams
Sunday, September 14
Bobby Clark Head Coach of Men's Soccer Bo Oshoniyi Postgame vs. Merrimack
Sunday, September 14
FH Head Coach Mark Egner Following OT Win vs Maine 9.12.25
Friday, September 12
Dartmouth Field Hockey Players Ella Bowman and Kylie McKinley Postgame vs Maine 9.12.25
Friday, September 12
