2/24/2026 10:41:00 AM | General, Women's Volleyball
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -  CSUN Athletics is mourning the passing of Linda Murphy, the first head coach in CSUN women's volleyball history, who passed away recently at the age of 82.
Murphy, a legend in the Southern California volleyball community, coached at CSUN from 1975-76, leading the Matadors to a 10-0 SCAA record and a conference championship in 1976. She posted an overall record of 46-19 in her two seasons at CSUN.
Murphy prepped at John Burroughs High School in Burbank and was a standout in volleyball, basketball and softball standout at Los Angeles Valley College from 1961-64 where she was later inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2014. She then played and coached at San Fernando Valley State (CSUN) before turning to high school coaching. She later played for the Los Angeles Volleyball Club and the Long Beach Shamrocks.
For many years she gave back to the volleyball community by running the Linda Murphy Summer Volleyball Camp and the SCVA Camp in Carpentaria. The City of Burbank also honored her for her long-time contributions. She coached volleyball for over 40 years at every level conceivable – elementary school through college and national club teams. She coached the only junior high school team to ever compete in California's Prep Nationals. She was instrumental in starting both of Burbank's public high school girls' volleyball teams.Â
Murphy is one of the most decorated Southern California volleyball players in history. At age 16, she joined The Sisters Volleyball Club and helped the Burbank team place third at USA Volleyball Open National Championships en route to being named an All-American.Â
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An 11-time USVBA All-American and eight-time national champion with the Shamrocks, Murphy traveled internationally with the USA national team for many years, highlighted first in 1963 when the 6-2 middle blocker helped the Pan-American Games to the silver medal. She then played on the first USA Olympic Team in 1964, and stayed with the USA program that won a silver medal a the 1967 World Championships and a gold medal at the 1967 Pan-American Games. In 1971 she received the USA Volleyball "All-Time Great Player" award as one of the first 12 women selected for the national honor. Â
She was selected for the 2021 Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame (SCIVBHOF) Lifetime Service Award and was named to USA Volleyball's 75th Diamond All-Era Team that was selected from players from 1949-1977.  She spent 40 years in coaching and returned to her home area of Burbank to be the volleyball coach at Burroughs High School from 1984-2002. She won two league titles and twice advanced to the CIF playoff quarter-finals.
She continued with USA Volleyball since 2007 as the chair of the "All-Time Great Player Award" committee that ensures that players from past generations are recognized for their contributions to the sport.  For her continued work she was awarded the James E. Coleman USA National Team Award.
Murphy with the CSUN Beach Volleyball team in 2014
"Linda has been a fixture in support the SCIVBHOF since our first year in 2017 and is most deserving of this honor for her lifetime contributions to the sport," said Mike Gallups, SCIVBHOF President on presenting her award in 2021.
A celebration of life will be at the Burroughs High School main gym on Mar. 21 at 2 p.m.
She was selected for the 2021 Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame (SCIVBHOF) Lifetime Service Award and was named to USA Volleyball's 75th Diamond All-Era Team that was selected from players from 1949-1977.  She spent 40 years in coaching and returned to her home area of Burbank to be the volleyball coach at Burroughs High School from 1984-2002. She won two league titles and twice advanced to the CIF playoff quarter-finals.
