COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) Athletics Director of the Year in 2001 and 2008, Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Administrator of the Year in 2004, TTU Distinguished Alumna Award in 2005, Collegiate Women Leaders Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame in 2017 are just a few of the accolades Dr. M. Dianne Murphy has received in her distinguished career, and she attributes much of her success to her Tennessee Tech University education.
"The education that I received as an undergraduate and as a graduate student was second to none," said Murphy. "It taught me that if you work really, really, really hard, you can accomplish a lot. It also taught me that you can ask for help. I certainly asked for a lot of help as an undergraduate. The thing that struck me about Tech is that the faculty were willing to help. The faculty really cared."
Murphy received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in health and physical education from TTU and played basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the University as well. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in administration, supervision, and curriculum in physical education from The Florida State University.
Murphy served as Athletics Director for both the University of Denver and Columbia University. Under her leadership at Denver, eight sports programs made NCAA tournament appearances and, on four occasions, Denver teams won a national title. Murphy then presided over one of the most successful periods in Columbia University Athletics history. During her 11-year tenure, Columbia won 30 Ivy League titles and a national title in fencing, and in 2013-2014, saw its most successful year with five Ancient Eight titles. In 2016, Murphy joined The PICTOR Group as a senior partner and now assists intercollegiate athletics programs increase their effectiveness.
Murphy hopes to give other students the opportunity to receive a great education at Tennessee Tech through her support. She established the Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Leaders for Life Program to provide mentoring and networking opportunities for female student-athletes and build the skills needed to be successful in sports and leadership positions.
"I care deeply about Tennessee Tech and TTU Athletics, and I felt it was important for young women in the athletics program to see women in leadership positions, whether they be in athletics, education, law, medicine, or something else," said Murphy. "As alumni, we have an obligation to give back to the institution that gave to us. I give back so others will have the opportunities that I have had."
