University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Sanft to be Inducted Into Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame
9/29/2022 6:02:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
PITTSBURGH – Donna DeMarino Sanft, a prominent figure in the history of the University of Pittsburgh Gymnastics program, will be inducted in the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame this Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Sanft made a remarkable impact on the gymnastics program over her lengthy career at Pitt. Not only was she a pioneer for Title IX, but she blazed the trail that many others have since walked along.
"Donna is a remarkable ambassador, not only for Pitt gymnastics, but for women's college athletics," said head coach Samantha Snider. "She is a pioneer in our industry and has forged the way for future generations to achieve their dreams. She is an inspiration for myself and all the former, current and future Pitt gymnasts in our program. Her legacy fuels our team to aspire to new heights every year."
At the beginning of her career with Pitt, she was the definition of a student-athlete. She was a three-time captain, three-time Most Valuable Performer, and Pitt's 1974 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which is now recognized as the Blue-Gold Award. This award granted her a spot along the Varsity Walk located outside of the Cathedral of Learning, but Sanft's legacy doesn't end here. At just 22-years-old, she became the first women's varsity gymnastics coach at Pitt and went on to earn Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year twice and compile a 86-57-1 record during her 12 seasons. She led her teams to Top 20 national rankings and also helped guide Lisa Shirk to an NCAA Championship on the uneven bars in 1982.
Sanft remained a fixture in the Panther community following her coaching tenure as she held several highly influential positions within the athletic department, including Coordinator of Student Affairs for Student Athletes; Associate Athletics Director for Student Life and Compliance; Interim Director of Athletics Executive Associate Athletics Director; and Associate Dean of Students.
Today, Sanft is still a prominent figure in Pitt student-athlete's lives. As a member of the Panthers to Pros mentorship program, she is uniquely paired with student-athletes, guiding them throughout their career at Pitt and future beyond being a Panther.
Sanft and the entire 2022 induction class will be recognized for her accomplishments at the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner presented by PNC Friday, Sept. 30 at Acrisure Stadium. She will also be introduced Oct. 1 at halftime of the Pitt-Georgia Tech football game at Acrisure Stadium. To read more about Donna and her fellow inductees, visit http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
