West Liberty University Athletics

    Women’s sports pioneer Johanna Meissner played a prominent role in the women’s sports movement during a time when women’s sports teams were fighting for acceptance at all levels of play. Meissner started her coaching career at West Liberty, serving as the school’s field hockey coach from 1968-70, before heading to Byesville, Ohio as a teacher and coach at Meadowbrook High School. She was the founding coach of Meadowbrook's girls' basketball and volleyball programs.
    Meissner returned to West Liberty in 1975, accepting a job as the women’s basketball coach leading a young team to an 8-7 record. She became the college’s volleyball coach from 1976-1984 compiling an overall record of 128-98. Meissner’s volleyball teams never finished lower than fourth place in their conference and won the WVIAC's regular season and tournament titles in 1981 – volleyball's first year as an official WVIAC sport.
    Along with her coaching and teaching responsibilities on the hilltop, Meissner also served as Co-Director of the Northern Panhandle Special Olympics for 19 years.