The transformation of Duke women’s varsity athletics from an inchoate program to a national powerhouse across many sports can’t be explained without Jacki Silar.
Silar arrived on Duke’s campus in 1979 as an assistant women’s basketball coach. She retired four decades later after a pioneering career in coaching and administration that helped make Duke Athletics synonymous with excellence on the field and in the classroom.
Assisting head coach Debbie Leonard, Silar helped the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 1987 and, one season later, mentored the program’s first All-America selection, Chris Moreland.
Silar also spent 15 seasons as Duke’s head field hockey coach. She earned ACC Coach of the Year honors twice, led the Blue Devils to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance and continues to be the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories. Silar was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
The expansion of Duke women’s athletics needed a strong leader, and Silar moved from the coaching ranks to become Duke’s first senior female athletic administrator in 1995. Under her leadership, Duke women’s sports won eight NCAA titles in golf and tennis.
Silar’s contributions went beyond the championships. At the national level, she was a voice for strengthening women’s sports on several NCAA committees, while at Duke she ensured that the university was a welcoming place for women’s athletes.
“I always knew Jacki’s door was going to be open when I needed her for anything. It was so reassuring to know I could stop in anytime,” said former golfer student-athlete Jenny Chuasiriporn. “She truly was a mother figure for me, and I am so grateful for her. Even after college, I still would stop in to say hi. With her smile and hug, you always knew everything was going to be all right.”
