Joan Cronan, who has served the University of Tennessee diligently since 1983, building lasting relationships and creating opportunities for success for UT student-athletes, coaches and administrators, is the recipient of the 2025 Betty F. Jaynes Lifetime Achievement Award, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Tuesday. The award is named in honor of the late Betty F. Jaynes, who was the WBCA’s first and longest-serving executive director.

A proven leader with her success being measured through both personal and professional accomplishments, Cronan built a team-first atmosphere through being trustworthy and loyal in all she does. Of Cronan, the late great Pat Summitt said, “Joan’s vision, passion, and tireless efforts to grow women’s athletics and to promote women’s opportunities have made a huge difference across the nation for women in sports. Joan was a driving force elevating the prominence and brands of Tennessee Lady Vols athletics through strategy, excellence, and priceless relationships.”  

An LSU graduate with an honorary doctorate from the United States Sports Academy, Cronan began her career in 1965 as an assistant basketball coach and math teacher at Opelousas High School. In 1968, she got her first job at the University of Tennessee as basketball coach and professor. After a 10-year career as athletic director at the College of Charleston, Cronan returned to Knoxville for good where she has served as women’s athletic director, athletic director, vice chancellor, advisor to the chancellor and consultant, and currently as athletic director emeritus.

“Joan Cronan‘s masterpiece, the Tennessee Lady Vols dynasty, is an iconic brand and symbol of women’s basketball excellence,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Joan and Pat Summitt established the standard to which all programs aspired. Joan’s impact on her coaches, support staff, and student-athletes is immeasurable. Her vision and relationships delivered significant investments for salaries, budgets, facilities, and fundraising.  She is a Tennessee treasure, national leader, and mentor to many — including me.”

Cronan has served in numerous leadership roles including Leadership Knoxville founding class and past president, United Way Chair, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics president, NCAA and SEC Executive Board, SEC Executive Committee, Carson-Newman College Board of Trustees, and the Pat Summitt Foundation as Chair.  Her list of accomplishments is impressive and includes inaugural recipient of the NCAA Pat Summitt Award, YWCA Lifetime Achievement Award, and most recently she became the first woman to receive the Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award individually.

Cronan has been inducted as a member to 11 different Halls of Fame for her many accomplishments, including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Tennessee and Louisiana Sports Halls of Fame, the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame and the University of Tennessee Educators Hall of Honor among others.

“It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers, and for something you dreamed about when you were 12 years old – which was to make a difference in women’s athletics,” Cronan said. “I have been privileged to be involved with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association since ‘the beginning of time,’ and had the pleasure of working with Betty Jaynes, Beth Bass and Danielle Donehew. I have always enjoyed my relationship with the WBCA and am grateful to receive an award that honors Betty’s legacy.”

Under Jaynes’ leadership, the WBCA established itself as the leading resource and advocate for and voice of coaches of women’s basketball, growing from 212 members in its initial year of existence to more than 3,000 at the time of her retirement in November 2001. Jaynes remained active with the WBCA as a consultant handling advisory assignments including finances, educational programming, advocacy, and special projects until her death in 2014. In total, she served the association for 35 years.

The award began as the WBCA Service Award in 1984.

Visit https://wbca.org/awards/ to see a list of past recipients.

About the WBCA 
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.