Colorado legend Ceal Barry retires

After 37 years on campus, Ceal Barry, 65, has retired, per an announcement by the University of Colorado. The CU legend spent 22 years as the head coach of the women’s basketball team, then 15 years as an administrator in the athletic department.

Barry began coaching hoops in 1983 and quickly built Colorado into one of the better programs in the nation. The winningest coach in Colorado history, she compiled a 427-242 over those 22 seasons. She also led Colorado to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, six Sweet Sixteen appearances, and three Elite Eights.

Her team in 1988-89 was arguably the best ever, as they went 14-0 in Big Eight competition, the first team in Big Eight history to go undefeated in conference play. That season she won the first of four Big Eight Coach of the Year awards.

After retiring from coaching in 2005, Barry transitioned into an administrative role. She was first the associate athletic directors, then took on the position of senior woman’s administrator. In her time as administrator she oversaw national championships in Cross Country and Skiing and the berth and development of women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse.

In 1997, Barry was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Then in 2018 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. It is inevitable that Barry will soon be inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame.