Coach Megan Duffy on leadership, legacy, and investing in others

For Megan Duffy, success in college athletics extends far beyond wins and losses.

Speaking to members of the Lifelong Learning Institute of Virginia Tech, Duffy reflected on the evolving landscape of college sports, the responsibility of mentoring young women, and the importance of building strong communities on and off the court.

“I really feel like I can make an impact on women,” Duffy said. “Hopefully, when they leave Virginia Tech, they’re future leaders in America in whatever profession they end up doing.”

Duffy, who recently completed her second season leading the Hokies, told the audience their spirit of service resonated with her.

“Hearing about this program, hearing about the volunteers and the enthusiasm to serve the person to your left and to your right — that’s what makes this community special,” she said.

The Lifelong Learning Institute, a program of Continuing and Professional Education, brings together adults 50 and older who want to continue learning, connecting, and exploring new ideas. Members, current and retired university faculty, and community participants contribute their time, expertise, and curiosity to create meaningful learning opportunities. Continuing and Professional Education is part of Outreach and International Affairs.

Part of Duffy’s remarks focused on the history of women’s athletics and the progress made since the passage of Title IX in 1972. She shared insights from “Game Changers,” a book chronicling the history of Virginia Tech women’s basketball and the experiences of early players who competed with few resources and little institutional support.

“The stories were amazing,” Duffy said. “Some of the women had one pair of sneakers. They barely had uniforms. They were riding in vans to games and getting limited gym time after the men were done practicing.”

Despite those challenges, Duffy said, the former players consistently described their experiences as transformative because of the relationships and sense of belonging they found through the program.

“The theme was community,” she said. “It was about the people you surrounded yourself with.”

Learning about those early generations of athletes deepened her appreciation for the opportunities available to women athletes today, Duffy said, while also reminding her that progress is still ongoing.

“We aren’t even close to where we need to be because we’re so many decades behind with opportunity,” she said.

Duffy also addressed the rapidly changing world of college athletics, including name, image, and likeness compensation and the transfer portal, which allows athletes to transfer schools more freely than in previous decades.

“It’s getting harder and harder,” Duffy said. “You have to have money and resources, but at the end of the day, I want people who want to be here.”

Throughout her remarks, Duffy returned to the idea that athletics should help shape strong, grounded people.

“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of young women,” she said.

That includes encouraging student-athletes to excel academically while navigating the pressures of social media, public visibility, and elite competition. Duffy noted that her team earned a 3.62 GPA during the spring semester.

“I’m really big on this mantra of being a powerful woman in the powerful women’s club,” she said. “We want them to believe they can do it all.”

Duffy also emphasized gratitude, teamwork, and human connection in an increasingly fast-paced and transactional culture.

“At the grassroots of everything, it’s still that old-school mentality of paying your dues, working hard, being a good teammate and a good person,” she said.

Closing her remarks, Duffy encouraged attendees to continue building community and investing in others — the same qualities she hopes to instill in her players.

“When it’s all said and done,” she said, “who will you be remembered as?”