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Linc Darner

Linc Darner
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamTampa
ConferenceSSC
Biographical details
Born (1970-12-12) December 12, 1970 (age 53)
Ravenna, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1990–1994Purdue
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995Purdue (student asst.)
1995–1997Murray State (assistant)
1997–1998Lincoln Memorial (assistant)
1998–2002Ashland (assistant)
2002–2006Saint Joseph's (IN)
2006–2015Florida Southern
2015–2020Green Bay
2021–2022Ball State (associate HC)
2022–2023High Point (assistant)
2023–presentTampa
Head coaching record
Overall384–196 (.662)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Horizon League tournament (2016)
NCAA DII National (2015)
SSC regular season (2008–2010, 2013–2015)
SSC tournament (2008–2009, 2012–2015)
GLVC regular season (2006)
GLVC tournament (2006)
Awards
NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year (2015)
6× SSC Coach of the Year (2008–2010, 2013–2015)

Linc Mitchel Darner (born December 12, 1970) is an American basketball coach and former men's basketball coach of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Phoenix.[1] Darner previously spent nine seasons as the head coach at DII Florida Southern College and four seasons at Saint Joseph's College (Indiana). In 2015, Darner's Florida Southern Moccasins finished 36–1 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship.[2] Darner was named the 2015 NABC UPS DII National Coach of the Year.[3]

Darner took over at Green Bay after Brian Wardle left in 2015. In his first season, he led the Phoenix to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996. Darner was fired on May 17, 2020, after posting a 17–16 record in 2019–20.[4]

Playing career

Darner played high school basketball at Highland High School in Anderson, Indiana. He then went on to Purdue University, where he played four years under legendary Boilermakers head coach Gene Keady. Darner was named team captain as a senior in 1993–94, leading the Boilers to a Big Ten Conference championship and a trip to the Elite Eight.

Personal life

Darner received his bachelor's degree in management from Purdue University in 1995. He and his wife, Kristen, have one daughter, Layne, and one son, Tate. Linc is the son of Alan and Diane Darner. He has two sisters and a brother. His older sisters are named Amy and Kim. Kim played college basketball at Indiana State. Linc's younger brother Tige was also an Indiana All-Star and played collegiate ball at Appalachian State. Linc is the uncle of Sean McDermott, who is currently on the Memphis Hustle roster.[5]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Saint Joseph's Pumas (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (2002–2006)
2002–03 Saint Joseph's (IN) 11–17 7–13 7th
2003–04 Saint Joseph's (IN) 15–13 11–9 6th
2004–05 Saint Joseph's (IN) 17–12 11–9 5th
2005–06 Saint Joseph's (IN) 31–3 17–2 1st NCAA DII Second Round
Saint Joseph's (IN): 74–45 (.622) 46–33 (.582)
Florida Southern Moccasins (Sunshine State Conference) (2006–2015)
2006–07 Florida Southern 8–20 3–13 9th
2007–08 Florida Southern 24–9 12–4 1st NCAA DII First Round
2008–09 Florida Southern 29–7 13–3 1st NCAA DII Regional Finals
2009–10 Florida Southern 25–5 13–3 1st NCAA DII First Round
2010–11 Florida Southern 23–9 12–4 2nd NCAA DII Second Round
2011–12 Florida Southern 20–10 9–7 T–5th NCAA DII First Round
2012–13 Florida Southern 27–6 12–4 T-1st NCAA DII Elite Eight
2013–14 Florida Southern 27–5 13–4 1st NCAA DII First Round
2014–15 Florida Southern 36–1 15–1 1st NCAA DII National champions
Florida Southern: 219–72 (.753) 102–43 (.703)
Green Bay Phoenix (Horizon League) (2015–2020)
2015–16 Green Bay 23–13 11–7 4th NCAA DI First Round
2016–17 Green Bay 18–14 12–6 T–3rd CBI First Round
2017–18 Green Bay 13–20 7–11 7th
2018–19 Green Bay 21–17 10–8 4th CIT Runner-up
2019–20 Green Bay 17–16 11–7 3rd
Green Bay: 92–80 (.535) 51–39 (.567)
Tampa Spartans (Sunshine State Conference) (2023–pres.)
2023–24 Tampa 8–20 4–16 11th
Tampa: 8–20 (.286) 6–16 (.200)
Total: 393–217 (.644)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References