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Hall of Famer Lindsey (Digmann) Murray: Linn-Mar player, coach and fan
These days, her focus is her four young daughters: ‘Absolutely, I’ll coach again. You can take the girl off the field, but you can’t take the field out of the girl.’
Jul. 25, 2025 12:00 pm, Updated: Jul. 25, 2025 1:57 pm
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FORT DODGE — The extent of Lindsey Murray’s motherhood duties were on full public display Thursday at the Rogers Sports Complex.
Murray’s four young girls — ages 5, 4 and 2-year-old twins — accompanied her to the middle of the diamond as she accepted her plaque that denoted her as a 2025 IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame inductee.
When it came time for the family to peel off for the next inductee to step forward, one of the twins balked and stayed at Mom’s side as long as she could.
“There’s always that thought that I wish I could have coached this team,” Murray said of the 2025 Linn-Mar squad that reached the Class 5A state final before bowing to Waukee Northwest, 1-0, in eight innings Thursday night.
“But right now, there’s no way I could do it.”
As Lindsey Digmann, Murray played in three state tournaments (2003, 2004 and a runner-up finish as the team’s lone senior in 2006). She coached the Lions to state in 2022.
Linn-Mar player. Linn-Mar coach. And now, Linn-Mar fan.
“The stars have aligned,” Murray said. “My goodness.
“When I heard (about the Hall induction), I started crying on the phone.”
Her playing career certainly was Hall-worthy. A five-year shortstop at Linn-Mar, she was a .441 career hitter with 334 hits and 217 stolen bases.
She was a four-year starter at the University of Iowa, playing in two NCAA tournaments.
Murray’s coaching stint at Linn-Mar ran from 2019 through 2023, before the twins were born. She coached many of the players on the current team, plus current head coach Maddy (Ryan) Colbert.
“It’s so much fun watching this group,” Murray said. “To see them get here ... no group deserves it more.
“Maddy does such a great job with the girls. I worked hard to build a culture, family first. To see it live on, there’s nothing better.”
Murray is 37 now. Her coaching days are on pause, not full stop.
“Absolutely, I’ll coach again,” she said. “You can take the girl off the field, but you can’t take the field out of the girl. I’m sure I’ll have the itch to get back, but I don’t want to waste these moments with our girls.”
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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