Head Tennis Coach, 1965-2000
Pharr has been an integral part of Queens since stepping foot on campus in 1964. She started with Queens as an instructor and quickly became involved in roles outside of the job description including coaching.
Pharr has always had a desire to help women have an opportunity to participate in sport and did so at Queens through the Recreation Association, equestrian club, club teams, five Division II NCAIAW teams, and most notably the women’s tennis program. As the women’s tennis coach from 1965 until the 1999-2000 season, Pharr guided the squad to the Department of Athletics first-ever NCAA tournament during the 94-95 campaign.
Among all the teams’ accomplishments, Ms. Pharr is most proud of the fact that the women she recruited truly exemplified the title of student-athlete, excelling in the classrooms and on the courts.
While at the helm of the program Pharr coached Brandi Nottingham who reached a national ranking of No. 7 during the 1998-99 season. Ms. Pharr, chair of the college’s Physical Education Department, has had influence far beyond the boundaries of the University.
Charlotte embraced her as she founded and taught for many years in a summer tennis camp for children. By the time she passed the camp on to others to run, she had introduced more than a thousand children to tennis and she was teaching the children of her first students. Evening tennis classes for adults was a long-standing part of Queens Continuing Education program.
Ms. Pharr has been a consultant for the public school system, a judge for a prestigious city-wide award to the outstanding male and female athletes of the year, and the director of an annual tournament for her church.
In the state she served as state tennis chair of the North Carolina Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and as President of the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Ms. Pharr also served on national committees of the organization.
Most recently Pharr was honored for her commitment as a teacher, an administrator and coach with the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award in 2008. The award recognizes individuals whose way of life uniquely inspires the potential of each student and was her third Queens teaching award.
