Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Women's Basketball
Silar, Jacki
Jacki Silar
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Tenure at Duke:
- 1979-2020
Jacki Silar spent four decades at Duke as both a coach and administrator before retiring from her Senior Associate Director of Athletics position on June 30, 2020. Silar was the first Senior Woman Administrator in Duke Athletics history, holding the post since its inception in 1995.
Coaching Career at Duke
Upon her arrival at Duke on September 1, 1979, Silar served as an assistant women’s basketball coach for 14 seasons alongside head coach Debbie Leonard. Silar helped the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 1987 and, one season later, mentored the program’s first All-America selection, Chris Moreland.
Silar also spent 15 seasons (1981-95) as Duke’s head field hockey coach. She earned ACC Coach of the Year honors twice (1990 & 1992), led the Blue Devils to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance (1992) and continues to be the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories (162).
Transition to Athletics Administration
Following her transition into athletics administration, Silar served Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA in a variety of capacities, most notably as the primary sport supervisor for many Blue Devil programs. She also spearheaded Duke’s student-athlete development division along with leadership programming.
In addition to working alongside three Directors of Athletics (Tom Butters, Joe Alleva and Kevin White), she served in an administrative capacity with 24 head coaches: Clar Anderson (wrestling), Jamie Ashworth (women’s tennis), Alex Beguinet (fencing), Beth Bozman (field hockey), Dan Brooks (women’s golf), Pam Bustin (field hockey), Dan Colella (swimming & diving), Gail Goestenkors (women’s basketball), Lindy Grensing (volleyball), Bill Hempen (women’s soccer), Robyn Horner (rowing), Jody Hyden (women’s tennis), Kevin Jermyn (women’s cross country), Kerstin Kimel (women’s lacrosse), Jay Lapidus (men’s tennis), Debbie Leonard (women’s basketball), Geoff Macdonald (women’s tennis), Joanne P. McCallie (women’s basketball), Jolene Nagel (volleyball), Jan Oglivie (track & field), Norm Oglivie (track & field), Liz Tchou (field hockey), Bob Thompson (swimming & diving) and Jon Wilson (volleyball).
As an administrator, Silar was a part of eight NCAA championship teams with the women’s golf (1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 & 2019) and women’s tennis (2009) programs.
NCAA Championships and Committee Service
Silar’s vast service on conference and national committees was headlined by stints on the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Committee and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. She served as the Chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee in 2008-09.
Academic Advisor and Community Involvement
In addition to her athletics department duties, Silar worked as an academic advisor for first year and sophomore students, taught in the department of Physical Education and served Duke on a variety of committees including the Harassment Grievance Board, Equity Committee, President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Campus Culture Initiative Steering Committee and Sexual Misconduct Task Force.
Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction
Silar’s impactful tenure saw the rise of women's athletics at Duke, both in terms of competitive success and the development of leadership and development programs for student-athletes. In recognition of her significant contributions to the department, Silar was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Personal Background and Education
A native of Pottstown, Pa., Silar played both basketball and field hockey at High Point College before graduating in 1974. She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of North Carolina, where she was an assistant field hockey coach.
Women's Basketball Season Ticket Holder Tailgate
Sunday, September 07
Duke WBB: Kara Lawson - 13 Gold Medals. One Standard
Thursday, August 14
Duke WBB Postgame: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Sunday, March 30
Duke WBB Postgame: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Friday, March 28
