Mary (Jenkins) McBride ('78), enrolled at Urbana during the developmental stages of women's athletics at the college. As a freshman, she played for some of the first volleyball and women's basketball teams to don the Royal Blue and White. When the athletic department added softball in 1976, McBride joined that team as well, becoming one of the first females to earn three varsity letters during a single school year. In all, the Ansonia native earned ten varsity letters at Urbana before graduating with a degree in education. She later taught and coached at Triad and Tri-Valley High Schools in Ohio, as well as Brighton High School in Colorado. Before retiring from coaching in 1998, McBride compiled a 240-73 overall record as a varsity volleyball coach at Triad and Brighton.

Ross adds, "Mary was one of the school's first successful multi-sport student-athletes during the early years of Urbana women's intercollegiate athletics. After graduation, she enjoyed a fine career in both teaching and coaching."