SUNY Cortland Athletics

Nancy Langham, the 1983-84 Rhode Island "Women's Coach of the Year" while at the University of Rhode Island, directed the SUNY Cortland women's basketball program in the early 1970's and still ranks as the College's most successful coach in that sport. From 1971-1976, Langham's Cortland basketball squads posted a 56-22 record competing against the best women's teams in the nation. Her Red Dragon teams went to the New York State AIAW Championships each season, finishing second two years. Three Langham-led Cortland squads were invited to the Eastern AIAW Regional Tournaments.

Langham established the women's outdoor track and cross country program at Cortland in the early 1970's. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Langham first came to Cortland in 1955 as a recent graduate of Onondaga Valley Academy. She served as president of the Women's Athletic Association while focusing her playing talents on basketball and softball.

Langham earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Cortland in 1959 and a master's degree from St. Lawrence in 1967. "I felt that the education I received in preparation for the career I have experienced was a fine one," recalled Langham about Cortland. "This was especially true when, fresh out of college, I was given the responsibility of K-12, all girl athletics, and health." Langham performed those duties at Beaver River Central School in Beaver Falls, N.Y. She also supervised the cheerleaders and coached the boys baseball squad for a time.

Langham returned to her alma mater, SUNY Cortland, as a teacher and coach from 1970-1976. Then, in 1977, Langham headed to the University of Rhode Island as both a basketball and softball coach. During the next nine seasons, her basketball units posted a combined 123-105 record. She's coached two All-America honorable mention players, two All-East players and an Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year. Her 1982-83 squad became Rhode Island's first 20-game winner. Words Unlimited named Langham its first Rhode Island Woman Coach of the Year. In softball, Langham's Rhode Island teams had a 166-72-1 combined softball record, winning the state title seven consecutive seasons. The WRams appeared in the AIAW Regionals five seasons while taking the championship in 1982. The 28-13 unit in 1983, the winningest in the school's history, became Rhode Island's first-ever squad in an NCAA Championship Tournament.

UPDATE- March, 2015: Langham retired from teaching and coaching in 1985 from the University of Rhode Island. She continues to stay involved by coaching the Griffis AFB Team and at Mohawk Valley part time. She has taught NYS Coaching Certification Courses for four years. Langham volunteers her time as a field officer for CASART Central Adirondack Search and Rescue.