LAS VEGAS – Ceal Barry didn’t coach in the Pac-12 Conference, but she made an impact as an administrator. And, being in the conference made an impact on her.
On Friday, the winningest coach in Colorado women’s basketball history added another achievement to her legendary career when she was inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor.
Barry is part of the first all-female class in the Hall of Honor, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX.
“The running joke is I never lost a game in the Pac-12,” Barry said. “That’s how I got the honor.”
Barry is deserving in part because of what she did as CU’s head coach from 1983-2005. She led the Buffs to a 427-242 record, with four Big Eight titles and five conference tournament titles (four Big Eight, one Big 12). She took the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament 12 times, including six appearances in the Sweet 16 and three in the Elite Eight.
Although she never coached in the Pac-12, she had an impressive 30-17 record against current members of the conference.
Following her coaching career, Barry worked in the CU athletic department for 15 years before retiring in 2020. She was CU’s senior women’s administrator (SWA) and associate athletic director for 13 years and then spent two years as the deputy athletic director.
CU announced its move to the Pac-12 in 2010, so Barry’s last 10 years at CU were in this conference.
“When I think about this honor, which is humbling, I think about my administrative time … and the 10 years with the other SWAs in the conference,” she said. “You draw on your experience prior to that when you’re sitting in a meeting room. What inspired me was the other women and the level of competitors on the women’s side that are in the Pac-12 and the number of championships.
“You were amongst greatness on the women’s side, which was new to me – and inspirational.”
Barry was also inspired to be in a conference that celebrated women’s sports so much.
“The spotlight is on women (in the Pac-12) and the administrative senior level leadership is really proud of the achievements of women,” she said. “I didn’t see that all the time as a young person.
“I really enjoyed it and enjoyed being around like-minded women. … Being surrounded by that in the Pac-12 in those meetings was uplifting and validating.”
Among Barry’s many honors in her career, she had previously been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2006), the CU Athletic Hall of Fame (2010) and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2018).
“It gives you pause,” she said of the honors she’s received. “You don’t want to dwell too much on it, but people honor you for a reason and it gives you pause to be grateful. Be grateful that you had the chance to do what you did when it was my time.”
Colorado officially joined the Pac-12 in the summer of 2011. Barry is the 11th former Buff to go into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor. The others:
2012: Burdette Haldorson (basketball)
2013: Cliff Meely (basketball)
2014: Ken Charlton (basketball)
2015: Jim Davis (basketball)
2016: Scott Wedman (basketball)
2017: Chauncey Billups (basketball)
2018: Bill Toomey (track & field)
2019: Lisa Van Goor (basketball)
2020: Bill Marolt (skiing; administrator)
2022: Jenny Simpson (cross country/track & field)
