- Date Of Birth: December 29, 1951
- Date Of Death: November 2, 2020
- State: Massachusetts
Nancy Darsch, 68, passed away peacefully in her home in Plymouth, MA, surrounded by friends and family, on Monday, November 2nd after a long, courageous fight. Nancy was predeceased by her parents, John A. and Arline (Giovanetti), as well as her brother John C. (Jack). She is survived by her sister in law Mary, her niece Sara and her daughter Amara, her nephew Dan, his wife Sarah, and their daughters Stella and Delilah. Nancy, born and raised in Plymouth, MA among a large extended family, developed a competitive streak as a well-rounded athlete, graduating from Plymouth-Carver regional high school in 1969. After graduating, she attended Springfield college which she graduated in 1973 with a degree in Physical Education. Nancy, a career coach and teacher, began her career coaching athletics in Western Massachusetts at Longmeadow High School before accepting a position as an assistant coach for legendary coach Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee, becoming the first paid assistant coach in women’s college basketball. During a successful run in Knoxville, Nancy earned her master’s degree, fought with Pat for pioneering equal opportunities under Title IX, was an assistant coach for the 1984 Gold Medal winning Olympic Women’s basketball team, and helped lead the Lady Vols to 5 Final Four appearances in 7 years. After a successful run in Tennessee, she accepted the head coaching position at Ohio State University in 1985 where she led the women’s basketball program for the next 12 years, winning 4 Big Ten Championships and an appearance in the 1993 NCAA championship game. Following her time in Columbus, Nancy was an assistant coach to Tara VanDerveer for the 1996 Olympics, where she helped bring home the gold for a second time. She then went on to be the head coach in the inaugural season for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, coaching the team to a Finals appearance that season. Nancy also coached at Washington, Seattle and Minnesota, and Boston College, before retiring and moving back home, spending her time travelling and enjoying family. In recognition of her career, Nancy was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and then on September 25, 2014 she was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame. Nancy’s career was built upon and defined by her humble beginnings, focused on hardwork and developing relationships. She was a trailblazer, especially for equal rights for women’s athletics and an advocate for Title IX. Nancy had a big heart and touched the lives of so many. She cared for and supported her players both on and off the court, helping to build their game while providing personal guidance and love. Relatives and friends are invite to the Visiting hours on Saturday November 7th from 9:30 – 10:45 am at St. Bonaventure’s Church 801 State Road, Plymouth (Manomet).
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