Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Linda Larson was a major driving force behind the growth and elevation of UMD women’s athletics as an administrator and a multi-sport coach. Larson coached volleyball in 1976-1981 and basketball from 1976-1980 and also coached one year of softball in 1977. In six seasons with the Bulldogs volleyball team, Larson guided her team to three straight AIAW Division II National Tournament appearances, including a fifth-place finish in 1980. The team captured five consecutive Minnesota AIAW state volleyball championships and three Northern Sun Conference titles from 1979-1981. Larson went 110-85 during her six year basketball coaching tenure and finished out the 1982-83 season with a 20-10 mark while placing second in the NSC race.
With all her success in athletics, Larson continued to impress others by becoming the Women’s Athletic Administrator at UMD from 1975-2002. Larson was involved several committees such as NCAA II Regional Softball and Soccer committee, and became one of the original members of the Northern Sun Conference in 1977.
In 1999 Larson received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the University of Minnesota system. Larson became the first to receive the Outstanding Woman of the Year Award given annually to a UMD faculty/staff member in 2002. In 2007 Larson was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame. Larson retired from UMD in June 2002 following a 27-year career.