# Lindy Vivas

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lindy_Vivas
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lindy_Vivas.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Vivas
> Source revision: 1344310654
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|American volleyball coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
'''Linda J. Vivas''' is an American former [college volleyball](/source/Volleyball_in_the_United_States) coach and professional volleyball player. In 1988–89, she was the executive director of [Major League Volleyball](/source/Major_League_Volleyball_(1987)). After losing her job as head coach of women's volleyball at [Fresno State University](/source/Fresno_State_University), she won a $5.85 million settlement in 2007.

==Early life and education==
Vivas graduated in 1975 from [Punahou School](/source/Punahou_School) in [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu),<ref>{{cite news |first=Cindy |last=Luis |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/98/10/24/sports/story3.html |title=Wahine top 'Dogs |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=October 24, 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312120647/http://archives.starbulletin.com/98/10/24/sports/story3.html |archive-date=March 12, 2016 }}</ref> where she played basketball and softball in addition to volleyball; she was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2013.<ref name=School>{{cite web |url=https://www.punahou.edu/hall-of-fame-detail?pk=1115288 |title=Lindy Vivas (1975) |website=Hall of Fame |publisher=Punahou School |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> In 1980 she earned a degree in [kinesiology](/source/kinesiology) from the [University of California, Los Angeles](/source/University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles) (UCLA).<ref name=Fresno>{{cite web |url=http://gobulldogs.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/vivas_lindy00.html |title=Lindy Vivas |website=Fresno State Bulldogs |publisher=Fresno State University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050506201817/http://gobulldogs.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/vivas_lindy00.html |archive-date=May 6, 2005 }}</ref> She played volleyball for the [Bruins](/source/UCLA_Bruins_women's_volleyball) in her senior year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/lindy-vivas/12195 |title=Lindy Vivas |website=1978 Women's Volleyball Roster |publisher=UCLA Bruins |access-date=January 2, 2025 }}</ref> Before transferring to UCLA, she attended the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California), where she was on the 1976 national championship [Trojans volleyball](/source/USC_Trojans_women's_volleyball) team, won an [AIAW](/source/Association_for_Intercollegiate_Athletics_for_Women) All-Region award that year, and also played basketball.<ref name=Fresno/>

==Career==
In 1979, Vivas was an assistant coach for the [UCLA Bruins](/source/UCLA_Bruins_women's_volleyball). From 1979 to 1980, she played for the [San Jose Diablos](/source/San_Jose_Diablos) in the [International Volleyball Association](/source/International_Volleyball_Association). She was then an associate coach for the [Texas A&M Aggies women's volleyball](/source/Texas_A%26M_Aggies_women's_volleyball) team from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 she played pro volleyball for the [Texas Magic](/source/Texas_Magic) and was a [USVBA](/source/USVBA) All-American. From 1984 to 1987, she was head coach of the [Washington Huskies women's volleyball](/source/Washington_Huskies_women's_volleyball) team, amassing a 72–60 record. In 1987 she played in [Major League Volleyball](/source/Major_League_Volleyball_(1987)) for the [New York Liberties](/source/New_York_Liberties).<ref name=Fresno/>

From 1988 to its disbanding in March 1989, she was Executive Director/Commissioner of Major League Volleyball.<ref name=Fresno/><ref name="News Tribune">{{cite news|first=Sheldon|last=Spencer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/737993431/|title=Tacoma CC soccer mounts a record assault; Northwest colleges|date=October 20, 1988|newspaper=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma, Washington|access-date=July 24, 2021|page=C9|via=Newspapers.com|quote=Today, Vivas is the new commissioner of the MLV.}}</ref><ref name="LAT">{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Lowery|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/405167931/|title=Major League Volleyball Teams Suspend Operations|date=March 21, 1989|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 24, 2021|page=72|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Vivas then became a real estate agent in the [San Francisco Bay Area](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Area) before resuming her volleyball coaching career as an assistant coach at [San Jose State University](/source/San_Jose_State_Spartans_women's_volleyball) in 1990.<ref name=Fresno/>

From 1991 to 2004 she was head coach of the [Fresno State Bulldogs women's volleyball](/source/Fresno_State_Bulldogs_women's_volleyball) team. During that time, she was an assistant coach for the [USA national B team](/source/United_States_women's_national_volleyball_team) in 1992.<ref name=Fresno/> At Fresno State, Vivas became the winningest coach in the program's history, with a 263–167 overall record and a .612 overall winning percentage. Her teams finished in the top three of the [Western Athletic Conference](/source/Western_Athletic_Conference) standings six times, and she was named WAC Coach of the Year three times (1992, 1997, 2002).<ref name=Fresno/> In the 2002 season, the Bulldogs finished 23–7 overall for their best single-season winning percentage, 767. During her tenure the team reached the [NCAA Tournament](/source/NCAA_Women's_Volleyball_Championship) three times (1991, 1998, 2002), went to the [National Invitational Volleyball Championship](/source/National_Invitational_Volleyball_Championship) three times (1992, 1994, 1995), and reached the [American Volleyball Coaches Association](/source/American_Volleyball_Coaches_Association) Top 25 national poll three times. The home match against the [University of Hawaiʻi](/source/Hawaii_Rainbow_Wahine_volleyball) on November 9, 2003, attracted a school record crowd of 4,708.<ref name=Fresno/><ref name=Out>{{cite web |url=https://www.outsports.com/2013/3/3/4061088/lesbians-dykes-and-atheists-at-fresno-state/ |title='Lesbians, Dykes and Atheists' at Fresno State |website=Outsports |date=March 3, 2013 |orig-year=2005 }}</ref>

==Firing and lawsuit==
On December 6, 2004, Vivas was let go from the Fresno State head coaching position.<ref name=Out/> The university gave as its reason that she had not done enough to improve the volleyball program;<ref name=CHE>{{cite news |first=Sara |last=Lipka|url=http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/07/2007071105n.htm |title=Jury Orders Fresno State U. to Pay Ex-Coach $5.85-Million in Discrimination Case |newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714020302/http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/07/2007071105n.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=AP>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=2930905 |title=Jury rules against Fresno St. in discrimination case, awards Vivas $5.85M |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=July 9, 2007 }}</ref> Vivas said she was fired for advocating for gender equity in accordance with [Title IX](/source/Title_IX),<ref name=Out/><ref>{{cite news |first=Dick |last=Patrick |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2005-02-16-on-womens-basketball_x.htm |title=MAC scoring leader hopes she's a biz whiz |newspaper=USA Today |date=February 16, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314060750/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2005-02-16-on-womens-basketball_x.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2007/07/05/nca-134744-shtml/14708328007/ |title=Study: Female coaches dwindling |newspaper=The Augusta Chronicle |location=Augusta, Georgia |date=July 5, 2007 }}</ref> and also that she had been discriminated against on grounds of her presumed [sexual orientation](/source/sexual_orientation).<ref>{{cite news |first1=Bryant-Jon |last1=Anteola |first2=Chris |last2=Collins |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/latest-news/article19498353.html |title=Dismissed coach gives her side of the story |newspaper=The Fresno Bee |date=June 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=Seattle>{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/vivas-wins-suit-against-fresno-st/ |title=Vivas wins suit against Fresno St. |newspaper=The Seattle Times |orig-date=July 10, 2007 |date=July 13, 2007 |agency=Associated Press }}</ref> She sued the university in [Fresno County Superior Court](/source/Fresno_County_Superior_Court). On July 9, 2007, a jury decided <!-- unanimously --> that the university had discriminated against Vivas, and awarded her $5.85&nbsp;million in damages,<ref name=CHE/><ref name=AP/><ref name=Seattle/> at the time a record-setting amount in a sex discrimination case.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/07/10/news/story03.html |title=Punahou alum wins $5.85M suit |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=July 10, 2007 |agency=Associated Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Redden |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/12/10/fallout-fresno-states-multi-million-dollar-cases |title=Fallout from Fresno State's Multi-Million Dollar Case(s) |website=Inside Higher Ed |date=December 9, 2007 }}</ref> In October, a judge lowered the amount to $4.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Norma |last1=Yuriar |first2=Brian |last2=Morrow |url=https://kmph.com/archive/fsu-vs-lindy-vivas-award-lowered |title=FSU Vs. Lindy Vivas: Award Lowered |publisher=KMPH |location=Visalia, California |date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |editor1-first=Shaun R. |editor1-last=Harper |editor2-first=Jamel K. |editor2-last=Donnor  |first1=Jennifer Lee |last1=Hoffman |first2=Jacqueline |last2=McDowell |first3=Valyncia C. |last3=Raphael |contribution=Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Under Title IX at Fresno State |title=Scandals in College Sports |year=2017 |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 9781138830547 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vivas, Lindy}}
Category:Punahou School alumni
Category:Volleyball players from Honolulu
Category:American volleyball coaches
Category:American women's volleyball players
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:UCLA Bruins women's volleyball players
Category:USC Trojans women's volleyball players
Category:Washington Huskies women's volleyball coaches
Category:Fresno State Bulldogs women's volleyball coaches
Category:San Jose State Spartans women's volleyball coaches
Category:UCLA Bruins women's volleyball coaches
Category:Texas A&M Aggies women's volleyball coaches
Category:21st-century American sportswomen
Category:20th-century American sportswomen

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lindy Vivas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Vivas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Vivas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.