Betty Jo Graber

Betty Jo Graber (, formerly Crumm; 15 March 1932 – 15 January 2023) was an American women's basketball coach. She played an instrumental role in the establishment of a women's division of the National Junior College Athletic Association and served as its chair from 1975 until 1991. Graber was a basketball coach at Weatherford College for 35 years, and served as a coach and team manager of the United States team between 1977 and 1984, including their victory at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Graber was admitted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1999.

Personal life Graber was born on 15 March 1932 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to George and Winnie Tackitt; she had two brothers. The family later moved to Panhandle, Texas, where Graber graduated from Panhandle High School. Graber went on to graduate with bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of North Texas, where she was a member of Delta Psi Kappa sorority.

Graber was married to Norris Crumm from 1954 until his death in 1970. She married Raymond Graber in 1980, and became stepmother to his children; he died in 2022. Graber was a practicing Baptist.

Coaching career

College coaching (1954–1991) Graber started her coaching career at Weatherfield High School in 1954. In 1956, she began coaching the women's basketball team at Weatherford College, where she remained for the next 35 years; she also coached for a time at Ranger College.

Graber was one of the pioneers behind the creation of a specific women's division of the NJCAA. This was established in 1975, and Graber acted as NJCAA Region 5 Women's Director, as well as the chair of the women's division's board from 1975 until her retirement in 1991. Graber represented the NJCAA on the Amateur Basketball Association of the United States of America's Women's Games Committee from 1977 to 1988 and on the ABAUSA Council from 1980 until 1984. Graber was the secretary of ABAUSA from 1984 until 1988.

Graber was admitted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 as part of its inaugural class. In 2022, she was admitted to the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

Weatherfield College named its gymnasium the Betty Jo Graber Athletic Centre.