"Ruth Brown was the early leader in women's athletics at VU and served the University for 35 years.

In addition to her being the longtime field hockey coach (over 275 games), she was the chair of the women's physical education department (1965-1977), and ultimately became the chair for the physical education department (1977-1980) when it became combined (men and women). She also served as associate director for women's intercollegiate programs (1975-1978).

Brown, the first coach of the women's basketball program, coached over 230 games from 1968-1978. Although women's athletics records were not consistently maintained prior to VU's NCAA affiliation, Brown is considered to be the first woman to help accelerate women's athletics progressively during the middle to latter part of the century. Brown was inducted posthumously.