Jul 31, 2025 5 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Vicki Staton was known for being a pioneer in women’s athletics and coaching volleyball and basketball at Washington and Jefferson College.

Her essence and legacy, however, is the commitments she made to her players, students and W&J — on and off the court and in and out of the classroom.

Staton died Wednesday after a brief illness. She was born near Cabin Creek, WV and graduated from Charleston (WV) High School (1970). Staton earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University in (1975).

“Vicky was like family to me,” said Jina DeRubbo, W&J’s women’s basketball coach. “When I had the twins, 20 years ago, I literally called her and said: ‘Vic, my assistant is young. I don’t know if I’m going to be out two days, two weeks or forever. Who knows what’s going to happen after I have these two babies.’ I asked her to come back and help us. She came back and then she stayed on my staff as a volunteer until Covid.

“She was like a second mother to me. She’s part of our family. I’m just heartbroken over it. She watched every (basketball) game whether it be online or in person or at home. She didn’t take anything from anybody and some feared her. It’s so funny to hear people say that now.

“She made sure nobody treated the women’s sports like they weren’t good enough. She was a softy on the inside. She talked a good game, but she had a heart of gold. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for anyone. When she was running intramurals at W&J, after she was done coaching, she always had a group of students — male and female — probably more male than female, working for her. When they were done and ready to graduate, she would take them out and buy them a suit to go on interviews when they were done here. That’s who she was. That’s her legacy.”

Staton started her teaching career at Waynesburg High School and coached the girls’ basketball team, winning two section titles.

Her work at W&J began in 1975. Staton is W&J’s all-time coaching victory leader with 646 combined wins. She led the volleyball program for 28 seasons, compiling 367 victories, five Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles and two ECAC South Region Championships.

Her basketball teams won 279 games over 25 seasons, capturing seven Pennwood Athletic Conference championships (1978-81, 1983-85), three Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships (1994, 1996, 1998) and an ECAC Southern Division III Championship (1994).

Upon her retirement from head coaching, Staton ranked 24th in NCAA Division III history for all-time coaching victories in both volleyball and basketball.

“She expected things to be done the right way,” said Valerie Dunlap Kerr, who played for DeRubbo but had a relationship with Staton. “We knew her story and our history. We knew she had been around for the start of the programs and obviously had been very successful. I think it took me a little bit later in my life to realize the impact she made on me personally.

“She fought for gender equality, particularly in athletics. She paved the way for all of us. She always spoke her mind and said it as it was. Warm and fuzzy wasn’t her style. But she always did it in a way we knew she cared.”

In June 2001, she was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was inducted into the W&J Athletics Hall of Fame.

“It’s been 50 years since she started coaching at W&J,” said Scott McGuinness, the Presidents’ athletic director. “To have been around 50 years like her, she had to make a significant impact on so many people.

“I think that’s why a lot of people are feeling the sadness. She impacted so many individuals. I mean thousands — both male and female. She had amazing relationships with the faculty, which I think enabled her to be such a successful coach and to recruit and have such great teams. She’s made us better people.”

Added Mike Orstein, former swimming and diving coach at W&J: “It’s heartbreaking. We’ve lost someone truly special. The college has lost a remarkable leader known for her uncommon integrity and unwavering values.

“Coach Staton was a true pioneer for Title IX and a trailblazer for women in collegiate athletics. At her core, Vicki was an educator first, and a coach second — something I deeply respected and admired. Representing her program meant more than just talent — it meant being a good, caring person. She was a passionate, demanding educator who shaped strong, confident women. Passive didn’t exist in her program. Vicki poured her heart into her student-athletes and they returned that love tenfold. She left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to know her.”

Staton was predeceased by her sister, Sandra Brace. She is survived by Barbara Waddington, a sister, Karen Staton, two nieces and a nephew.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. August 14, on the W& Jefferson campus at the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.