Women's Basketball | 6/29/2026 1:15:00 PM

WASHINGTON (June 29, 2026) – Howard University legendary coach Linda Spencer was laid to rest Monday (June 29). The Celebration of Life Service was held at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home (3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD).
 
Coach Spencer is a pioneer of women's athletics at Howard University, leaving an indelible mark on the university's sports culture as both an elite student-athlete and a championship-winning coach. Her dedication laid the groundwork for the modern era of the university's women's sports programs.
 
Spencer's journey at Howard began during an era when women's collegiate sports received little formal backing or funding. Spencer came to The Hilltop from McKinley Tech High School in D.C. It became apparent early on that Spencer was destined for great things as she was named to the First Team All-Metropolitan in the Washington Post.
 
The next milestone came when she enrolled at Howard and became a non-scholarship star on the school's very first women's basketball team. Operating on a shoestring budget before the widespread implementation of Title IX scholarships, she and her teammates famously played for the love of the game, wearing t-shirts provided by the intramural director and playing for meal tickets.
 
In 1982, the next step came when she helped lead the Bison to a historic MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) title, making Howard the first-ever MEAC women's basketball team to earn a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
 
Following her playing career, Spencer transitioned into coaching the sport of volleyball where she replicated her competitive success from the sidelines.
 
Spencer took the reins as head coach and under her leadership, the team became a dominant force in the conference. She coached the team to five MEAC titles and personally honored as the MEAC Volleyball Coach of the Year five times.
 
Meanwhile, due to her love for her alma mater, Spencer took on an added responsibility as assistant women's basketball coach under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Sanya Tyler. It should come as no surprise that the women's basketball program would establish itself as a power in women's college basketball, winning several MEAC Regular Season and Tournament Titles.
 
It must also be noted that Spencer became a trendsetter at Howard as one of the most efficient directors of operations in school history.
 
Spencer has influenced the careers of many.
 
Romanda Noble-Watson is a former sports information director at Howard, who now serves as head communications director for athletics in the state of South Carolina. Noble-Watson is regarded as one of the top public relations specialists in the sport of volleyball and women's basketball.
 
"I was at Maryland Eastern Shore when we first met," Noble-Watson recalled, who served a sports information there. "We developed a relationship and she pushed for me to come to Howard. I will never forget when she reached out to me and gave me the news that I was coming to Howard. She had a lot to do with my trajectory in the profession due to my relationship with her as a successful African American woman. I learned so much from her."
 
Brittany Williams played for Coach Spencer (2001-05) and was a mainstay in the program during her tenure. Williams is currently the head coach at Bethune Cookman University where she served as assistant (2012-15) until 2015 when she was named head coach.
 
"When I came to Howard, I had not seen an African American coach in all my playing days," explained Williams. "But Coach Spencer opened my eyes and there was something special about playing for her. But more importantly, she is the reason I got into coaching. Seeing her in that space motivated me to pursue a career in coaching. I am forever indebted to her."
 
Over the past 15 years, Shaun Kupferberg has taken the HU volleyball to great heights. He is the winningest coach in school history with almost 250 wins since 2012.
 
"What she accomplished during her time at Howard is phenomenal," praised Kupferberg. "She helped build the women's program and it is amazing when you consider that she did it at a time when HBCUs were not recognized on a national level. It is an accomplishment and part of her legacy."
 
Andrea Gardner holds the distinction of being the only HBCU player to play several years in the WNBA. A Howard and MEAC Hall of Famer, Gardner credits her growth and development for Spencer.
 
"When I got to Howard, Coach Spencer played a great role in my development, " explained Gardner. "She had a calming effect on us that contributed to our success in life. She is one of the few people who was there for my transition from young girl to motherhood and adulthood."
 
In recognition of her immense contributions as a dual-sport athlete and championship coach, Coach Spencer was officially inducted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2014.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.