TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (September 22, 2022) – To state the obvious, Norma Carr is a Utah sports legend.
 
Carr's professional persona is inextricably linked with numerous athletic legacies in the Beehive State – high school coaching and Title IX advocacy, officiating, and serving as a pioneer in the provision of opportunities for women in college sports. While there are several appetizing parts of Carr's career to look upon, her distinguished tenure at Salt Lake Community College stands apart from the others.
 
A native of Utah, Carr served as Salt Lake's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation for 25 years, overseeing the expansion of the department from humble beginnings at the old South High School campus into one of the nation's foremost junior college athletic programs. She also oversaw multiple Scenic West Athletic Conference and Region 18 championships, including the SLCC Men's Basketball team winning an NJCAA national title during her tenure.
 
In the days after her recent Utah Sports Hall-of-Fame induction, which took place Monday, Carr beamed over the excitement she still shares for Salt Lake Community College.
 
"SLCC holds a special place in my heart as this is where I was able to build a program, improve facilities, and raise the bar on our own expectations," she said. "With the quality of our teams and my work on regional and national committees, I was able to make an impact here. I love what SLCC offers for the students, and that the athletic program is still strong and has grown."


 
Carr's effects are wide reaching, still felt in the program today as multiple head coaches in the program either played or coached in the department when she led the charge. Filling in for a legend is never an easy task, but it's one that Kevin Dustin, Salt Lake's current Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation, took in stride, especially after seeing the success Carr left in her wake.
 
Dustin said Carr's work has made Salt Lake an elite place to work in intercollegiate athletics.
 
"We are so proud of Norma and congratulate her on her recent induction into the Utah Sports Hall-of-Fame," he said. "She is the foundation of all the great things that are happening at Salt Lake Community College in intercollegiate athletics. Her influence on athletics, especially women's sports, cannot be overstated."
 
Besides her role in leading day-to-day operations with the Burins, Carr also notably represented Salt Lake Community College in the community and around the nation, serving on numerous national and regional committees. She also was a frequent advocate for the growth of opportunities for women and girls in sports, helping the institution become synonymous with that movement.
 
Dr. Deneece Huftalin, Salt Lake Community College's President, said Carr's tenure at SLCC was remarkable.
 
"Norma Carr's influence and impact on SLCC Athletics and our national notoriety is palpable, and it is literally visible on our campuses," she noted. "From the building of the Lifetime Activities Center to Cate Field, to the 'Norma Carr Softball' facility, her tenacity to create outstanding facilities to house outstanding student-athletes and attract outstanding coaches has brought SLCC and our student-athletes great success. We believe in the power of sport, and we believe that Norma built an important and lasting legacy at SLCC given her passion for NJCAA athletics. She is so deserving of this honor."
 
After several years away from the top chair, Carr still mixes a healthy affinity for SLCC Athletics with her growing work in other Utah sports causes, mainly the Utah Sports Hall-of-Fame Foundation. The preservation of Utah's proud sporting history remains a passion project for one of the newest inductees into its 'Hall-of-Fame', which can be viewed at a sterling new facility in downtown Salt Lake City.
 
"The (Utah Sports Hall-of-Fame Foundation) is trying to help coaches grow and be better prepared to handle coaching things beyond the 'x's-and-o's of sport," she said. "In celebrating the past, we continue to honor athletes, coaches, the distinguished service of people, people who have Hall-of-Fame careers, and game officials. We want to honor Utah Sports people who have achieved at the highest level."