William & Mary, 1981
• 1980 First Team Academic All-America®
• 1981 First Team Academic All-America®
Lynn Norenberg Barry was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2001.
Lynn Barry’s career, marked by both outstanding athletic and academic achievement, began at The College of William and Mary where she is considered the most talented player in women’s basketball history.
By the time she graduated in 1981 she had become the most decorated basketball player in school history, establishing 11 school records with six of them remaining intact today. As a four-year starter and co-captain, her success began immediately when she was named the conference Player of the Year in her freshman season. During her sophomore year she led the team to the VAIAW state championship. By the time she graduated in 1981, Barry had racked up 1,500 points in only 82 games played.
As a basketball player, Barry was a three-time VAIAW All-State Team and three-time VAIAW State All-Tournament Team member. Remarkably her drive and talent extended beyond the basketball court. She also lettered in track and field and was the Virginia discus champion in 1977. In addition to being a multi-sport athlete, Barry graduated with a 3.97 GPA and as 7th in her class of 869. Her academic excellence earned her two Academic All-American honors while at William and Mary as well as an induction into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
After her 1981 graduation, Barry went on to earn a master’s degree from Kentucky with a 4.0 GPA. From 1981-1983 as a hard-working graduate student, Barry worked as an assistant coach for the Lady Wildcats basketball team. Eventually, Barry worked as the only woman on a 10-person staff of field investigators for the NCAA. She then worked as an assistant director of USA Basketball for 11 years from 1985-1996. During her time there, she organized all women’s basketball teams for participation in events such as the World Championships, Pan-American Games and the Olympic Games. After the women’s national team won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, Barry left USA Basketball to become a special advisor to the WNBA where she worked for 5 years.
In 1991 Barry was honored as an inductee into the William and Mary Athletic Hall of Fame. Her accolades continued in 2001 when she was inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and on February 17, 2002 when she became the only women’s athlete in William and Mary history, regardless of sport, to have her jersey number 22 retired.
Barry went on to work as a guest speaker, inspiring young athletes.