Lions

Lindenwood Lions

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
Past Conferences: Heart of America Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference
City: St. Charles, Missouri
Arena: Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena

Championships:

NCAA Tournaments: 0
National Championships – 0
Conference Titles – 0

Team History

The Lindenwood Lions are a fairly new college basketball team, having begun play in 1972-73. The Lions made the move to Division I for the 2022-23 season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Lindenwood enjoyed a bit of success over the years as a member of the NAIA.

Lindenwood went through coaches quickly in its beginning, with seven different head coaches in the team’s first 11 years. Lanny Hradek was the team’s longest-lasting coach at four years, while Vernon Smith last two years. The other five coaches lasted just one season each.

Dale Ribble led the Lions to their first NAIA Division II Tournament in 2000 and Lindenwood repeated the feat in 2006. The last time Lindenwood competed in the NAIA Tournament was in 2011 when the Lions advanced to the second round.
Central Michigan assistant coach Kyle Gerdeman was hired by Lindenwood for the 2019-20 season. The Lions went 11-21 in their first Division I season in 2022-23.

Lindenwood Lions All-Time Records

Points Scored

Chris Childs, 417
Keenon Cole, 414
Kevin Caldwell Jr., 385

Rebounds

Cam Burrell, 190
Keenon Cole, 182
David Ware, 129

Assists

Kevin Caldwell Jr., 105
Cam Burrell, 59
Chris Childs, 56

Lindenwood Lions FAQs

Why are Lindenwood’s colors black and gold?

Glen Cerny, a member of the 1972-73 Lindenwood basketball team, said the color scheme started with a soccer goalie who pushed starting men’s athletics at the school in 1970. “The best I can tell you is the black and gold was because he liked the colors of the Pittsburgh Pirates, from what I know, and it sure sounds like a great story doesn’t it?” he told the Lindenwood campus online news website.

How did Lindenwood become the Lions?

The team’s basketball players wanted the nickname “Lobos,” but soccer coach Larry Volo came up with Lions.

Why did Lindenwood begin its basketball program so late?

Lindenwood University got its start as The Lindenwood School for Girls in 1822 and in 1853 became the Lindenwood College for Women. The school remained a women’s-only college until 1969, when the school opened The Lindenwood College for Men. The schools operated separately until 1983 when it became known as Lindenwood College.