George Van Linder had his best season yet in 2016 as he led the Northwestern State soccer program to its first Southland Conference Tournament since 2008.
Van Linder, who was named All-Louisiana Co-Coach of the Year, led his team to a five-win improvement and a No. 3 seed in the league tournament.
NSU put multiple first-teamers on the All-Louisiana team (Patry Carrion and Alex Latham) for the first time since 2002.
Carrion and Latham made the All-SLC first team, the first time NSU had a first teamer since 2008 and multiple first-teamers since 2005.
Entering his sixth season, Van Linder returns the core of his team with all but two starters returning.
The program made statistical strides in 2015 as the the Lady Demons placed multiple players (Cassandra Briscoe and Esdeina Gonzalez) on All-Southland Conference teams for first time since 2009 and one player (Briscoe) on the All-Louisiana team for the first time since 2008. Patry Carrion (SLC honorable mention) played a role in lowering the team’s goals against average by nearly one full goal in 2015 (1.42).
A young team finally found its groove during the 2014 season, winning three of its final four games in 2014.
Van Linder, who has 18 years of experience as a college soccer coach, including two seasons at SLC rival Stephen F. Austin, was hired to direct the Lady Demon soccer program in January of 2012.
He inherited a young team, which won one game in league play in his first season (2012), and led them to five conference wins in 2013 – the program’s most since 2005.
In 2012, his team pitched four-straight shutouts, during which they scored 16 goals. Five of the 11 losses that season were by two goals or less. In 2013, the Lady Demons held their opponent scoreless in four games and never allowed more than one goal in any game they won.
Van Linder coached Ashlee Savona and Jessica Danku to All-Southland Conference selections and saw his team win the College Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has coached a total of six all-conference players in his NSU tenure.
Van Linder spent two seasons prior to NSU as the associate head coach at Oklahoma, and in 2010, the Sooners posted double-digit wins for the first time since 2005. Oklahoma finished third in the Big 12 regular season standings while making the program’s first appearance in the Big 12 Championship game. The season featured 37 goals (tied for a program record) and culminated with OU clinching a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history (2003).
Prior to his arrival in Norman, Van Linder spent the previous two years as the head coach at Southland power Stephen F. Austin (2008-09). He led SFA to a combined 19 wins (12 SLC wins) in his two seasons, including a second-place finish in 2008.
With 53 wins in seven seasons at Southland Conference schools, Van Linder ranks ninth on the SLC career wins list. The Galeburg, Mich. native, compiled a 177-166-31 record in 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach and hauled in recruiting classes that were ranked nationally on eight occasions. He coached 55 all-conference honorees and was twice named the conference coach of the year (1996 at Butler and 2000 at SMU) and once the state co-coach of the year (2016 at NSU).
Van Linder also has extensive experience in the Big 12 Conference after serving as the Baylor University head coach during five seasons (2003-2007) prior to his SFA stint. The Bears’ 2006 trip to the Big 12 tournament was the program’s first since 2001. Van Linder’s time in Waco, Texas produced four all-conference honors -- including Ashley Noah, who was chosen for the U-20 U.S. National team -- and 41 Academic All-Big 12 honorees.
Van Linder posted a 59-20-7 record in four seasons at SMU and guided the Mustangs to four straight Western Athletic Conference regular-season championships. In 1999, SMU reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, one of three postseason appearances. In all three of the NCAA Tournaments, the Mustangs won their first round game and also finished the season ranked in the top 25. He was named WAC Coach of the Year in 2000 and earned the Dallas Morning News Coach of the Year award in 1999.
He started his collegiate head coaching career in 1996 when he took over the women’s program at Butler after serving three years as an assistant for the men’s team. The Bulldogs were 34-27-3 under Van Linder and finished two of three seasons ranked in the national polls. Butler won the regular season and conference crowns in 1996, reaching the tournament championship game all three seasons.
Van Linder has worked with the Olympic Development Program since 1994 and spent six years as the head coach for Indiana Youth Soccer Association boys and girls state teams before becoming the head coach for the North Texas Youth Soccer Association girls state teams in 1999. He held that position for five years and has been a staff coach with the ODP’s Region III since 2000.
A 1990 graduate of Western Michigan University, Van Linder lettered on the Broncos’ soccer team and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health education.
He and his wife, Chris, have one daughter, 13-year-old Mariska.
