MSU Athletics Remembers Coach Nita Head

Murray State Athletics is saddened at the passing of one of its pioneers, Coach Nita Head, who helped shape women's intercollegiate athletics from 1967-82.

Coach Head passed away Saturday, March 11, at the age of 87.

Visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home in Murray, Kentucky.

Coach Head's service to Murray State University has been celebrated and cherished over the years after she was the coach charged with starting the women's tennis program in the late 1960's.

She was enshrined in the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1987.

Undefeated in their first two seasons (14-0), Head's teams would eventually compile a 204-67 record, good enough for a .753 winning percentage. That included three undefeated seasons – 1967, 1968, and 1973 (11-0). Her 1981 team finished with a school record 30 victories.

Head, who taught physical education at MSU, was named the school's athletic coordinator for women in 1979.

Here are the thoughts of some of the people Coach Nita Head worked with and mentored during her time at Murray State.

Connie Keasling, who took over three seasons after Coach Head retired and led the Racers for 22 seasons until her retirement in 2011
"Coach Head was a highly respected coach who loved to compete and cared about her players. She was a gifted recruiter ahead of her time. I asked her one time about recruiting and she just seemed to have a way of connecting with kids and that's what made her program great. Her players had a wonderful experience with Coach Head and they helped send more great ones to play at MSU and I was fortunate to be able to follow such a successful and well thought of program."

Lanette Hunt, wife of current MSU men's golf coach Eddie Hunt, was a member of Coach Head's first Racer team in 1967.
"In 1967 when Coach Head started the first women's tennis team at MSU, she asked me if I'd like to play. I thought that would be great. Coach was a very serious, unassuming and a hardworking lady with a dry witty sense of humor and a subtle competitive spirit. Coach Head was a trailblazer and a champion of all women's sports. She loved the game of tennis and especially her tennis girls. We all loved her and will miss her."

Kathy McNutt played on Coach Head's final team at Murray State as a sophomore in 1982.
"Coach Head was a tremendous coach and teacher in life, on and off the court," McNutt said. "She always offered wise advice and spoke softly, but we always knew when she meant business! She was a well-respected leader and so supportive of us as a team, and individually, in accomplishing our goals. Coach Head fought hard for women's tennis and women's sports, and all of Murray State athletics, in general. All of the teams were very supportive of each other and she really encouraged that from all of us. She will be greatly missed by generations of MSU women's tennis players, and all who knew her."

Margaret Simmons, started the MSU women's track & field program and was a colleague of Coach Head.
"MSU President Dr. Woods and gave us a budget and off we went," Simmons said. "When we began our programs, we did not have scholarships, but soon we were given the funds and we were thankful. Nita was a great teacher and perfectionist and she was a coach that was well organized and she felt that failure was not option. Those were great years working with Nita and neither one of us forgot where we started and how far the programs have come."

Velvet Milkman, current MSU women's golf coach and senior woman administrator in Murray State Athletics.
"Murray State University has lost a pioneer," Milkman said. "Nita Head he was one of the first female coaches at Murray State and a true advocate for women's athletics. Her teaching and coaching influenced the lives of many people in the classroom and on the field of competition."

Obituary and Funeral information
Nita Graham Head died peacefully on Saturday, March 11, 2017 with wonderful care from the staff of the Anna Mae Owen Hospice House, associated with the Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Kentucky.

The daughter of Grady and Ola Robertson Graham, she was born on May 8, 1931 near Princeton Alabama in the Paint Rock River Valley in the mountains of North Alabama where her family farmed. Her parents and three brothers; Carl, Russell and Kelly preceded her in death.
While attending the Paint Rock Valley High School she practiced with the boys' basketball team as there were no athletic programs for girls. However, much to her chagrin, she was not allowed to play in the games. Nonetheless, her coach, who was also the principal, encouraged her to attend college and to major in physical education. She did so at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama). Upon graduation she taught at the Bridgeport Alabama High School and at Georgia Southern College. After obtaining a Master's Degree from George Peabody Teachers College (now part of Vanderbilt University), she began teaching Health and Physical Education at Murray State Teachers College (now Murray State University).

In the mid-1960's she began developing an "ad hoc" tennis program at Murray State with no funding. With the approach of Title IX legislation requiring funding for women's athletics she (along with Margaret Simmons in track and Dew Drop Rowlett in basketball) began a formally recognized tennis program with a budget of $300. While the team's win/loss record (204-67 from 1967 to 1982) became one of the best in the university's history, she never cut a player. Moreover, while she tenaciously wanted her players to win, she emphasized academic achievement and saw road trips as opportunities to widen the view of the world for her players.

Animals were also a part of her life. On the farm, to her family's surprise, she rode the cows to the barn. In Murray one of her many dogs, Louis, a miniature poodle, often accompanied her to the office and on road trips. "Smartest Dog in the Whole Wide World," he was considered
"people" by most humans and was very fond of chasing sticks. Nita's "tenacity" was complemented by her modesty and her "sense of wonder." Her interests were broad ranging. In addition to racquet sports, water skiing, rock climbing, camping and gardening, she was especially fond of folk dance, traveling across the country to workshops and festivals. She also took lessons in classical guitar. She served on the board of the Civic Music Association and supported other performing and visual arts programs. Upon retirement she studied weaving and became very accomplished.

Nita held strong beliefs in regard to the importance of cultural, environmental and physical education. She traveled to Europe, Asia, and Mexico as well as throughout the United States, including Alaska. After the deaths of all of her immediate family members she donated her family's farm (The Graham Farm and Nature Center) to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to be used as a model farm and a center for environmental education and outdoor recreation. She is survived by her husband, Robert Head, and her wonderful cat, Carson, as well as her former tennis players, former students and friends.

Remarks by husband, Robert Head, at 12:00 noon followed by memorial visitation until 3:00 P.M., Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home.

Cremation by imes Funeral Home & Crematory. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to: Hospice of Murray, Murray Calloway Endowment For Healthcare, 803 Poplar St. Murray, KY 42071 The Graham Farm and Nature Center. Checks should be made payable to the Alabama 4-H Club Foundation, Inc., and mailed to 226 Duncan Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849 with Graham Farm in the memo line. MSU Women's Tennis Team. Checks should be made out to Murray State University, with "Women's Tennis" in the memo line and sent to Susan Darnell, Murray State University1401 State Rt 121 N, Murray KY 42071.

Murray State University Athletics

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