Mimi Murray teaching Gymnastics

A photographic print of Dr. Mimi Murray teaching a group about gymnastics. She is standing next to the balance beam pointing to a gymnast walking on the beam. The gymnast has her hands raised above her head and her right foot is in front of her left. The photograph is taken over a pummel horse and there are young women seated on the floor observing the lesson. The photograph is taken in West Gymnasium in Judd Gymnasia on the campus of Springfield College.Mimi Murray earned her bachelor’s (1961) and master’s degrees (1967) from Springfield College and her doctorate from the University of Connecticut (1967). She has been a professor at Springfield College since 1967. Dr. Mimi Murray coached the Springfield College women's gymnastics team from 1968 to 1974. Under Murray the team went undefeated (37-0) in dual team meets. During her first year, Springfield College hosted and won the first National Collegiate Women's Championship (Division I, II, and III). They also won five Eastern Regional Championships and three Division I National Championships (1969, 1971, 1972. Murray coached the USA Team in the World Games in Moscow and was named USA Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year by Champion Athletic Co. In 1974, she was named National Gymnastics Coach of the Year. In 1985, Coach Murray was named a pioneer in girls and women's sports in the United States by the Women's Sport Foundation. Her textbook, “Gymnastics for Women: The Spectator, Gymnast, Coach, and Teacher”, is considered an authoritative source in sport. Currently, she serves as the vice president of the International Council of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance and vice president of the United States Collegiate Sports Council. Dr. Murray is a former president of both the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. She was a commentator for ABC’s Wide World of Sports and NBC’s Sportsworld. As a sports psychologist, Dr. Murray published many articles and lectured throughout the United States