B. J. Kuntz: Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years of Title IX

The 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX was celebrated in state associations and schools across the country this past year. During the 2022 NFHS Summer Meeting, the year-long #TitleIXat50 campaign was celebrated with several sessions dedicated to Title IX. B. J. Kuntz, assistant executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, hosted a workshop session on the “Next 50 Years of Title IX,” focusing on the current state of equity in high school sports and how state associations and schools can continue the progress of the past 50 years.

Question: What stood out to you as the 50th anniversary of Title IX was celebrated across the country? What were some of the highlights?

Kuntz: What stood out to me was a paradigm in perspectives, which I tried to communicate in my presentation at the NFHS Summer Meeting. While Title IX paved the way for so many women currently in the professional workspace, it also remains rare that women are engaged in levels of leadership that require managing through hierarchy.

While the celebrations were inspiring, many of the stories were clearly about someone that had to brave challenges, stand up and persist. I found myself wondering why women had to fight so dang hard to take the smallest step. Thank goodness so many have braved uncharted waters to create a runway for people like myself to navigate the world of athletic leadership.

Highlights for me included the opportunities to see and hear the stories rather than simply read about them. I greatly appreciate walking into spaces where women were present, sharing their stories. Having personal conversations with successful women, supporting one another created the greatest moments for me. The opportunities to ask questions, hear their experience and find my own parallels were reassuring.

Question: In your presentation, you provided time for reflection. What are some of the important milestones in your life as a female excelling in the world of athletics? Who were your mentors?

Kuntz: Important milestones for me surely included moments where I felt inspired to excel. Attending a women’s college basketball tournament in Washington when I was in high school showed me something I had never seen before. Combined with excellent high school coaches, specifically my high school volleyball coach, Tracey Reese. She was one of the toughest people I had ever met. Her expectations were high while I searched for my identity as an athlete. She instilled in me “total confidence in my ability to overcome any obstacle, and not be denied.”

I had no idea how much that quote ingrained in my mind would serve me as an adult. Once I got through high school and began my career as a college athlete, I unexpectedly lost my mom. The days and months following that loss changed the trajectory of my life as I leaned on what I had learned as an athlete to face the heartache, honor its place in my life and make the most of my journey. Using that experience to propel myself as a teacher, coach and eventually an athletic director, dean of students and now association staffer, I have tried to remind myself to be the person for others that I wish I had.

Question: You identified three chapters of Title IX in your presentation. What was the significance of Chapter 1 (1972-2019)? What were the accomplishments and challenges of that chapter?

Kuntz: The significance in Chapter 1 is founded in the way Title IX impacted our society and more specifically the role of women in athletic leadership. Chapter 1 includes three kinds of Title IX influencers. Legislation provided the foundation for equity, suggesting that girls and women would have equal access and treatment under the law.

Courageous women were those that knew they should be afforded equal opportunities and made that known. Those included greats like Patsy Mink, Billie Jean King and Pat Summit, to name a few.

And, finally, advocates; those individuals who felt so inclined to open doors, speak up and provide opportunities to women. In each of these three, not one of them could have moved the Title IX needle alone. They all existed over the years as Title IX attempted to make its impact on society.

The accomplishments are apparent as legislation put systems in place for checks and balances. Some women rose to the top because advocates were necessary. However, it is incredibly apparent in reflecting over the past couple of years how the efforts during Chapter 1 were only building a foundation for the real work of equity to grow and thrive in a new society. If Title IX legislation was working, would the inequities in NCAA women’s basketball have ever happened? If our nation has grown to count 43 percent of varsity athletes as women, why are the coaches, athletic directors or state association staff not reflective of that same 43 percent?

Question: Chapter 2 was 2019 to present. Why is that relatively short timeframe so important in the story of Title IX?

Kuntz: The relatively short timeframe referenced in Chapter 2 has rocked the foundation of our world. It has provided the opportunity for organizations to rebuild with a new view on equity and inclusion. Athletics has historically provided a platform to inspire change, fairness and equity. Its impact in the past two to three years is magnificent. The various social movements have required each of us to challenge our personal beliefs, reflect on our words and biases and take personal responsibility in reference to how we show up and impact others.

We are at a tipping point where movement toward gender equity is accelerating at rates we haven’t seen before. There is evidence of this most everywhere you turn from media/visibility, fandom, investment in women’s sports, equal pay, NIL and possibly, more importantly, a shift in who a full generation of youth (both boys and girls) will look up to as their athletic heroes.

Question: As we come out of the past few years and move past the 50th anniversary celebration, what do you see as the most important issues and challenges to equity (in sports and elsewhere)? How do we counteract these challenges/issues?

Kuntz: As we begin to move past the celebration and reflect on the chaos of change in the past few years, the ultimate responsibility is thinking clearly and intentionally paving a path forward. We should minimize the one-hit wonders that were an attempt to bring equity, or short-sighted decisions to improve inclusion. Instead, we need a commitment to intention and long-term change to inspire equity, collaboration and a celebration of diverse thought and action as a standard.

Systems that have been in place for years that protect and promote certain individuals or beliefs rather than challenging the status quo. It’s important to recognize that we don’t have to put the pieces back together the same way. The world is calling us to act differently. It takes an open heart and willingness to take a step back and humbly approach the next chapter with a desire to be better and do better. It’s an attitude and a willingness to change.

Question: How do state associations and high schools keep up the momentum that has been built?

Kuntz: State associations are a unique and powerful system with history and hierarchy living strong.

Individuals must answer to themselves in regard to using their voices and the power of the seat they hold. Invite voices to the table, be clear about what matters and lead from a place of changing history and writing your own story. This is not a time to encourage ego and strength as athletics has championed for years. It is a time for humility and compassion to rebuild with values and equity in mind.

Approaching our work with an abundance mentality. It’s not A or B, rather it’s A and B. We can live both idealistic and realistic, short term and long term, steadfast to our history and evolve. In athletics, we are competitive and driven. We are used to winners and losers. It’s important to evolve our thinking to compromise and celebrate all that exist in sport and activities.

Question: How can individuals interested in helping to further the impact of Title IX help?

Kuntz: Attend events like a state association conference, the National Athletic Directors Conference and other events in your state/ area. If your state doesn’t have events, start them. Find people who are doing work that inspires you, ask questions and make it happen in your area. You may surprise yourself with what can happen when you do the work.

Just like Chapter 1, it takes legislation to continue to level the playing field, courageous women to continue to influence their organizations, use their voice and lead with courage and advocates that leave their ego at the door. History is being written as we speak. What side of history do you want to be a part of? Each person knows where they sit in their organization and has the opportunity to influence no matter what seat they hold. It takes personal responsibility to include other voices and perspectives.

I have said it many times and will say it many more I’m sure: Be the person you wish you had. Never underestimate the power of your voice. Think big, start small, start now.