Elaine Michaelis, the godmother of BYU women’s athletics, passed away on April 2, 2025, at the age of 86.
Elaine Michaelis, a decorated figure in women’s athletics at Brigham Young University (BYU), took her last breath, leaving behind her private life story with her husband, H. Duane Michaelis.
Coach Elaine married H. Duane Michaelis on February 26, 1977; however, intricate details of her husband remain concealed.
On top of that, she was a private person, keeping her personal life away from media scrutiny.
Throughout her life, she devoted herself entirely to her career. Likewise, most sources have centered on her professional achievements, revealing very little about her family.
BYU announced her demise, expressing sorrow and admiration for her works:
Cougar Nation mourns the loss of former BYU director of women’s intercollegiate athletics, legendary women’s volleyball coach, and first-ballot AVCA Hall of Famer Elaine Michaelis.
BYU
Meanwhile, we extend our condolences to Elaine Michaelis’s extended family during this ordeal.
Elaine Michaelis Had a Successful Career Spanning Over 4 Decades at BYU!
Born Dorothy Elaine Michaelis on May 1, 1938, in Tooele, Utah, Elaine dedicated her life to sports and education.
Elaine came to BYU as a student in the 1950s, playing volleyball, basketball, and softball. She was a great athlete, once pitching a no-hitter and a perfect game in softball on the same day in 1959.
After graduating in 1960 with a degree in physical education, she started coaching at BYU in 1961 and later earned a master’s degree in 1962.
For 44 years, Elaine worked at BYU, coaching teams like volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and softball. However, her biggest success came with the women’s volleyball team, where she coached for 40 seasons until 2002.
She won 886 games, making her one of the best coaches in college volleyball history. Her teams took home 23 conference titles and made it to many national tournaments, including a runner-up finish in 1972 and a Final Four in 1993.
Elaine didn’t just coach but she also became the women’s athletic director at BYU from 1995 to 2004.
Back then, men’s and women’s sports had separate leaders. She fought for better opportunities for women, like scholarships and good facilities, especially after Title IX became law in 1972.
Later, in 2005, BYU named the volleyball court in the Smith Fieldhouse “Elaine Michaelis Court” to honor her.
Elaine started at BYU when women’s sports didn’t get much attention or money. She worked hard to change that, alongside her friend Lu Wallace, another BYU leader. Together, they made sure female athletes got a fair shot.
She was part of big groups that set rules for women’s sports, like the AIAW and NCAA committees.
Even after retiring, Elaine stayed close to BYU. She often showed up at games to cheer for the women’s teams.
She retired as the second-winningest women’s volleyball coach in NCAA history in 2002.
In 2003, she was one of the first people to be inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
She also received awards from the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the BYU Hall of Fame in 2008.
