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
The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (UW-Green Bay, UWGB, or Green Bay) is a public university in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with regional campuses in Marinette, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan. Founded in 1965, it is part of the University of Wiscons ...
Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
.
Darner previously spent nine seasons as the head coach at DII
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College (Florida Southern, Southern or FSC) is a private college in Lakeland, Florida. In 2019, the student population at FSC consisted of 3,073 students along with 130 full-time faculty members. The college offers 50 undergradu ...
and four seasons at
Saint Joseph's College (Indiana)
Saint Joseph's College (SJC; colloquially, Saint Joe) is an unaccredited private Catholic college in Rensselaer, Indiana. It was founded in 1889 and suspended academic operations in 2017 with approximately 1,100 students enrolled. In 2021, the c ...
. In 2015, Darner's Florida Southern Moccasins finished 36–1 and won the
NCAA Division II National Championship.
Darner was named the 2015 NABC UPS DII National Coach of the Year.
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.
Playing career
Darner played high school basketball at
Highland High School in
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson, named after Chief William Anderson, is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison County. Anderson ...
. He then went on to
Purdue University
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and mone ...
, where he played four years under legendary
Boilermakers
A boilermaker is a tradesperson who fabricates steel, iron, or copper into boilers and other large containers intended to hold hot gas or liquid, as well as maintains and repairs boilers and boiler systems.Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dep ...
head coach
Gene Keady
Lloyd Eugene Keady (born May 21, 1936) is an American basketball coach. He is best known for his 25 years serving as the head men's basketball coach at Purdue University in Indiana. In his tenure leading the Boilermakers from 1980 to 2005, he went ...
. Darner was named team captain as a senior in 1993–94, leading the Boilers to a
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...
championship and a trip to the
Elite Eight
In the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, the "Elite Eight" comprises the final eight teams, representing the regional finals, or national quarterfinals. In Division I and Divis ...
.
Personal life
Darner received his bachelor's degree in management from
Purdue University
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and mone ...
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
Sean Michael McDermott (born March 21, 1974) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001, ...
, who is currently on the
Memphis Hustle
The Memphis Hustle are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in the Greater Memphis suburb of Southaven, Mississippi, and are affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team plays their home games at the Landers Ce ...
roster.
Head coaching record
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darner, Linc
1970 births
Living people
American men's basketball coaches
American men's basketball players
Ashland Eagles men's basketball coaches
Basketball coaches from Ohio
Basketball players from Ohio
College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Florida Southern Moccasins men's basketball coaches
Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball coaches
Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters men's basketball coaches
Murray State Racers men's basketball coaches
People from Ravenna, Ohio
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball players
Saint Joseph's Pumas men's basketball coaches