Union University Athletics

Peggy Birmingham is a 1970 graduate of Union University. At that time, there were no women’s sports at Union. As a student, Birmingham requested permission and received approval to play for the Union men’s tennis team. She became a key member of the varsity team.
                                   
After graduation, Birmingham returned to Union and helped start several women’s sports including basketball and tennis at the varsity levels. She coached the women’s basketball team from 1972-81, posting a 198-57 record. Union won state, conference and region championships under Birmingham, and were ranked nationally in the top-10.
 
In 1976, Birmingham was named the Kellogg’s Coach of the Year for Tennessee. That same year, Birmingham’s Union team defeated Pat Summitt’s Tennessee team three times. Birmingham led Union to three Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) Titles and was named the VSAC Coach of the Year.
 
Birmingham coached women’s tennis at Union from 1972-73 and again from 1981-83. Her teams were nationally ranked, earned VSAC Western Division titles and posted three top-15 finishes (#11, #13, #9) in the national tournament. She earned VSAC Tennis Coach of the Year honors as well.
 
While at Union, Birmingham also helped start club teams for women in volleyball and softball. In addition, she coached the men’s tennis team from 1973-77. Union awarded Birmingham the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award in 1980.
 
Birmingham was chosen as the Outstanding Young Women of the Year and was the Director of Special Olympics in Madison County. In 1996, Birmingham was selected to be the chaplain for the summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2007, she was inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Birmingham presently lives in Lebanon, Ky. She has additional degrees from the University of Tennessee and  Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.