East Texas A&M University Athletics

Tavener established herself as one of the pioneers in women’s athletics at East Texas State, serving as the Lions’ head volleyball and women’s tennis coach from 1977-83. She served as the volleyball program's first head coach, winning 120 matches in her time as coach. During the 1980 season, Tavener helped lead the team to a national runner-up finish in the NAIA Tournament. Her’s teams won 20 or more matches in four of her five seasons, including winning 30 matches in 1982.

On the tennis courts, Tavener’s teams won a handful of AIAW Division II regional and national tournaments, including finishing second in the region in 1979. She coached a handful of top players, including 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Patti Bean, who spearheaded Tavener’s 1979 team to become the first ETSU women’s team to qualify for a national tournament. She was named the National Coach of the Year in 1981.

Tavener spent 20 years teaching high school students in Greenville and Commerce before returning to A&M-Commerce as the Director of Education Preparation in 2002, serving as a member of the Hall of Fame committee.