Bestselling Author, UCM Women’s Basketball Legend Millie Barnes Share an Inspirational Evening with Campus Audience Oct. 11

WARRENSBURG, MO – University of Central Missouri women’s basketball coaching legend Millie Barnes is returning to campus Oct. 11 to be part of a free public presentation featuring New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss. His new book, “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team,” addresses a subject that was close to Barnes during her professional career with the UCM Jennies -- a topic that contributes to the author’s coming to campus and his remarks planned for 7 p.m. in Hendricks Hall.

The program is titled Author Talk: Andrew Maraniss, author of “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team” with special guest Millie Barnes, former Jennies basketball coach and member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Committee. The presentation is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to bring to UCM individuals who can help highlight issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion and its impact not only on campus but the world we live in. Individuals planning to attend the event can enter Hendricks Hall at 6:30 p.m. A book signing in the foyer follows the presentation.

Barnes coached the Jennies from 1971-1980, and is credited with laying the foundation that helped make the UCM’s women’s basketball program one of the nation’s best. During her nine-year career, she never had a losing season while compiling a 156-63 record and winning two AIAW state championships. In her final season, 1979-1980, she coached the Jennies to a 26-5 record and reached the AIAW national tournament. Gaining much respect in women's national basketball ircles, Barnes became the first woman to serve on the board of trustees of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame from 1977-1986. She wrote the first book on five-player women's basketball. She also served on the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Committee and was instrumental in bringing the first U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team to Warrensburg to train prior to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. The team earned a silver medal at the Olympics and featured such prominent women's basketball names as Pat Summit, Nancy Lieberman and Ann Meyers. Barnes retired from what was then Central Missouri State University in 1991 as professor emeritus of physical education, following 22 years of service.

Maraniss is known for writing history, non-fiction and telling stories with a social justice message. He is the author of books such as author of books such as “Strong Inside,” which received the Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards’ Special Recognition Prize, and the book “Singled Out,” the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, who was the first openly gay Major League Baseball player and inventor of the first-ever high five.

Published by Penguin Random House, “Inaugural Ballers” is a well-researched true story about the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball team. Comprised of several then unknown collegiate players, this determined group of young women exceeded all expectations through their inspirational journey to the 1976 Olympics. They may not have won the top prize, but their medal-winning performance and their winning attitude captured the hearts of many people and helped lay the foundation for women’s sports to take off nationally at the youth, collegiate, Olympic and professional levels. The roster of players that included Lieberman and Meyers and many others coached by Billie Moore became some of the most legendary figures in women’s basketball.

Individuals who want to know more about this presentation should contact Mona Duncan in UCM’s Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at mduncan@ucmo.edu.