Long Beach State University Athletics
Lindgren Returns to Coach 49ers
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Lindgren Returns to the Sidelines LONG BEACH, CA-- Former coach Ken Lindgren, who coached the Long Beach State men's team from 1975 to 1998, has agreed to become the interim women's water polo coach for the 2006 season. The Hall of Fame Coach takes over for Ricardo Azevedo, who resigned to become the director of U.S. Men's Water Polo. Lindgren returns to the program he helped start in 1998 prior to the hiring of Sandy Vesser-Schneider. He served as the interim Head Coach for Occidental Women's Water Polo in 2003 and was the Assistant Coach of the U.S. Women's Team from 1998 to 2000, culminating in an Olympic silver medal. "Ken brings a wealth of coaching experience both internationally, and at the Division-I level," said interim Director of Athletics Cindy Masner, who will lead a national search for a permanent replacement to be named at the end of the season. "Ken is very respected in the water polo community and will help with a seamless transition starting with the team's first official practice on January 9." Lindgren served as a men's Olympic coach in 1980, 1984 and 2000 and as an Olympic official in 1996. He is seventh all-time in career wins in NCAA history on the men's side. The 49er women are coming off three-straight 20-win seasons and have regularly been ranked amongst the nation's top-four in each of the past three seasons. The Beach returns senior All-American Cassie Azevedo along with national teamers Tara Campbell (Canada) and Marina Canetti (Brazil). The 49er women's program has had six members of various national teams, including current U.S. team member Drue Wawrzynski, since its start in 1998. Lindgren led the 49ers to eight NCAA appearances (1975, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991) and was a three-time coach of the year (1981, 1983, 1988).The 49ers best finish came in 1981, when they were second at nationals. He also won five conference titles. During his time on the sidelines, Lindgren coached 34 All-Americans, and had eight "A" Team Olympians, including Doug Kimbell, Azevedo and Kyle Kopp. Previously, Lindgren coached CS Fullerton's water polo team from 1971 to 1974, as the Titans won league championships all four seasons and finished third in the NCAA Tournament in 1971 and fourth in 1974. He went to go 335-338-3 in 24 seasons at LBSU. Lindgren has been teaching mathematics, including Long Beach State, for over three decades, starting in the 1960's at Cerritos College. A member of the LBSU and U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fames, the 1960 graduate of The Beach, was the league MVP in 1959 for the 49ers. Lindgren also runs a Camp of Champions and is an evaluator for Mountain Pacific Sports Federation officials. LINDGREN'S CAREER RECORD
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Copyrighted by Long Beach State and www.longbeachstate.com. All rights reserved worldwide.
No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written Please contact the webmaster should you find an error or out of date link.
