Announcing the Passing of Former Mt. SAC Dean and Athletics Director Linda Garrison
WALNUT - With deep regret, the Mt. SAC Athletics Department announces the passing of former professor, coach, athletics director and dean, Linda Garrison.
Garrison was a pioneer in women’s athletics and for women administrators. She was the first woman to attend a Commission on Athletics (governing body of California Community College Athletics) meeting in 1974 and subsequently became the first female athletics director to guide both men’s and women’s athletics at the community college level. She later became the first female football conference president, guiding the Mission Football Conference in 1990-91.
Her groundbreaking role helped shape Mt. SAC athletics into a national model for community colleges. Garrison coached four sports, initiated a cutting-edge fitness and wellness program, and served on numerous college committees that influenced academic policies.
“She was an incredible leader and a visionary of women’s athletics,” replied Mt. SAC Associate Dean and Associate Athletics Director, Debbie Cavion. “Her work impacted thousands of student-athletes, coaches and administrators, both male and female, and her legacy will impact many more in the future. She provided new opportunities for women like myself and Carsandra Taylor (first African American female athletic trainer in California) to break barriers and gave us long phenomenal careers here at Mt. SAC."
Garrison joined the Mt. SAC family in 1963 and retired in 1996 after 35 years of service. At Mt. SAC Garrison served as a member of the faculty, classified staff, and administration. She spent the last 13 years with the College as Dean of Physical Education and Athletics and as Athletics Director.
Garrison’s career began as a junior high school instructor in 1958. She advanced from that beginning to interact with educational leaders through the California community college system and to serve as a model and guide in the evolutionary gender-equity journey in athletics.
During her career, she accumulated many honors: Outstanding Alumnus by her alma mater – the University of Central Oklahoma; Outstanding Athletic Director by the California Community College Coaches Association, and the Honor Award from the California Community College Athletic Directors Association.
Her pioneering role began in 1973, when she served as the state-appointed liaison to the National Interscholastic Athletic Federation, where she represented California high schools and was the first and only woman in attendance at its' 1973 national convention.
Garrison also served as President of the Southern California Community College Intercollegiate Athletic Council, as a member of the State Commission on Athletics, as a consultant in athletics and physical education for the Los Rios Community College District, and as President of the South Coast Conference. She was the California Women’s Representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Directors Association in1974-75 and served as Community College Liaison to the National High School Athletic Directors Association from 1974 to 1976.
Garrison shared her wealth of knowlege by also penning two books; "Fitness and Figure Control, The Creation of You (1981)" and "Fitness for Every Body (1980)."
An avid golfer, Garrison listed winning the 1994 club championship at Industry Hills, among her greatest feats.
In 2013, she was honored for her lifetime of work and inducted into the Mt. SAC Athletics Hall of Fame.
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Athletics Department at 909.274.4630.
(Mt. San Antonio College Athletics)