Hall of Fame
Sue Fetter could certainly be considered a “Pioneer” in the beginning of intercollegiate athletics for women being recognized on the EKU campus and nationwide. She played three sports from 1966-1969—volleyball for legendary Hall of Fame coach Geri Polvino; field hockey under longtime physical education teacher and administrator Gertrude Hood; and basketball for Millie Maupin. The Colonels competed against other schools with these teams, called “Honor Teams”, in competition with the University of Dayton, the University of Louisville, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Kentucky, Southeastern Christian College and Berea College, among others.
Following her graduation from EKU in 1970 and a stint as a student teacher at Shawnee High School in Louisville, Fetter began a 27-year association with Ballard High School in Louisville. She started the girls’ athletics program at Ballard, coaching every sport available for the girls which included tennis, golf, field hockey, track and junior varsity basketball. She led Ballard to the state runner-up title in field hockey in 1985 and to the state semifinals in three other years along with Jefferson County Championships in seven other seasons.
Fetter also had success coaching track, directing the Ballard girls to state titles in 1974 and 1977, a runner-up in the state in 1975 and numerous county, district and regional championships in the 1970’s. She also served as a director of the state, sectional, regional and county track meets from 1976-1986. She served as a director of the prestigious Mason-Dixon Games from 1976-80 and the UofL Cardinal Relays from 1979-82.
After serving as assistant athletics director at Ballard, Fetter was assistant AD at Presentation Academy in Louisville for four years. She has also officiated several sports contests including basketball, volleyball, field hockey, softball and track. She received the National Association for Girls and Women’s Sports Pathfinder Award in 1998. Other national awards included being Kellogg National Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1979. Among her many statewide and local awards are being named Kentucky High School Track Coach of the Year in 1976 and 1979. She was also recognized by EKU as the Physical Education Outstanding Alumnus in 2008. Her most recent recognition came in 2011 when she was inducted into the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.
