Sharon Peterson
Women's Administrator and Coach
Inducted in 1998

Sharon Benson was the most influential person in getting women's intercollegiate athletics started at UVSC. She fought to gain approval from the State Board of Education to begin women's intercollegiate play. and finally gained the approval she sought in December of 1977. She became UVSC's first women's coach, and served terms as the head coach for volleyball, softball, and basketball. She got each of the programs under way without scholarships, facilities, uniforms, equipment, or a league schedule. She recruited UVSC's first players, all of whom were walk-ons, and worked to put together a schedule to play area teams and establish the UVSC program as legitimate.

Though early teams enjoyed little success in terms of winning games, Benson set the stage for what was to become one of the most prominent women's programs in the region. She taught PE classes and was the school's cheerleader advisor, and also ran the women's intramural program. Before coming to UVSC, she earned a bachelor's degree at BYU and was valedictorian of her class. She was an all-around athlete, competing in volleyball, softball, track, and gymnastics for the Cougars. She prepped at Provo High School, where she was president of the Girl's Athletic Association and was named the school MVP on the soccer, basketball, track, and gymnastic teams. She earned an academic scholarship to attend BYU. Benson earned an EMT certificate at UVSC, then retired from coaching in 1981.