SUNY Cortland Athletics

A 1953 graduate of Cortland, Sally Yaeger Wallace joined the faculty in 1960. She organized the women's intercollegiate softball team in 1968 and as its coach during the 11 years, guided it to 106 wins and 33 losses - a 76 percent winning record. Her 1977 team won the New York State Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW) softball tournament.

A native of Rochester, N.Y. , Wallace singled out her "biggest athletic thrill" by stating: "Very difficult, there have been so many exciting moments. I guess I would have to say that the 1977 softball teams winning the State Championship was a real thrill. This was a team that worked together for four years, maturing and developing throughout that time. They came very close to winning in 1975 and 1976. They just never quit, overcoming a number of obstacles to finally winning. 1977 was a great year!"

Wallace also coached the women's golf team for three years which won the 1974 Eastern Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) championship and never finished lower than fifth in the tournament.

Sally also coached basketball for five years and swimming for one year and competed in basketball, softball and volleyball as an undergraduate. Sally received a master's degree in physical education from Cortland in 1963.

For over 27 years, Wallace has held professional memberships in the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (NYSAHPER), the American Alliance for Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPER), NYSAIAW and EAIAW, serving for a period as chairman of its golf section. She also chaired the NYSAIAW softball tournament committee in 1973.

Sally is married to Robert "Sparky" Wallace '53.

UPDATE: Sally passed away in August 26, 2008 at age 76.