Mike Lindemann Announces Retirement
Lindemann led Cobras to three NJCAA Tournament appearances, 2015 National Runner-Up
Parkland College Women's Basketball Head Coach Mike Lindemann announced his retirement Wednesday.
The announcement comes on the heels of a six-year tenure at Parkland that saw Lindemann lead the Cobras to three NJCAA Tournament appearances, including a program-best NJCAA National Runner-Up finish in 2015 and five Mid-West Athletic Conference Championships, while amassing a combined .752 (152-50) winning percentage.
"My 11 years at Parkland College have been nothing but great," Lindemann said. "I would like to thank Coach Redeker for bringing me aboard as an assistant coach and Rod Lovett for believing in me to guide the Parkland Women's Basketball program. We could not have had the success that we have had without the great work of my coaching staff: Dave Ellars, Bill Dobrick, Jeff Turner and Allie Lindemann. These coaches were awesome. I must, also, thank my wife, Liz, for supporting me all those hours I was away from home. And, finally, the players, you young ladies, have been a blessing for me over the last 11 years. The connection you leave with me will last a lifetime."
Athletic Director Brendan McHale called Parkland College extremely fortunate to have had Lindemann lead its women’s basketball program.
“Under Mike’s leadership, he and his coaching staff have had success, both regionally and nationally," he said. "He also taught his teams to serve others by volunteering within our community. Mike’s willingness and ability to teach these ladies not just basketball, but also life lessons, is something that is very important to him. Mike will be sorely missed, and the Parkland College Cobra family wish nothing but happiness and success to him and his wife, Liz.”
Hired prior to the 2013-14 basketball season, Lindemann continued to extend the program’s success with three NJCAA Tournament berths and four conference titles in his first four seasons at the helm. Highlighting the run, Lindemann guided his second team to an impressive 35-2 overall record in 2014-15, including a perfect 10-0 record in conference, and the program’s first appearance in the NJCAA DII National Championship Game.
Compiling a winning record in all six seasons as the Cobras' head coach, Lindemann surpassed the 20-win threshold five times, highlighted by the 35 wins in 2014-15, and averaged 25.3 wins per season. Dominant within the M-WAC, Lindemann's squads won at least eight conference games in five of six seasons, including four with at least nine wins and a perfect 10-0 finish in 2015. Winning at least two games at the NJCAA National Tournament in each of his three appearances, Parkland went 8-4 in the tournament under Lindemann with a top-eight finish each year.
In addition to the team accolades, Lindemann was crucial in the development of some of Parkland's top athletes over the past six years. With the guidance of Lindemann, four Cobras were named NJCAA All-Americans: Laura Litchfield (2015), Hannah Wascher (2015), Kerstyn Lowery (2017) and Ryan Rooley (2018). Lindemann’s athletes also combined for four M-WAC Player of the Year honors, 13 All-Region accolades, and 14 M-WAC All-Conference selections. As a result of their individual success, Lindemann sent 21 players on to play at four-year schools.
Prior to taking over as head coach, Lindemann served five seasons under previous head coach Karrie Redeker. With Redeker, Lindemann and the Cobras made three straight trips to the NJCAA Tournament from 2009-2011. Placing in the top-six in each of those tournaments, the three-year run was capped by a third-place finish in 2011 that stood as the highest finish at NJCAA Championships in program history prior to the National Runner-Up finish in 2015.