Lindenwood Lions

The Lindenwood Lions and Lady Lions are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Lindenwood University, located in St. Charles, Missouri, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the Ohio Valley Conference for most of its sports since the 2022–23 academic year.

[6] The athletic association sponsored popular sports and activities of the time period such as tennis, bowling, fencing, basketball, and walking clubs.

[6] In the late 1940s Lindenwood's athletic teams began regular intercollegiate competition, sponsoring women's basketball, field hockey, and equestrian.

Baseball, basketball, and soccer became the college's first three men's sports in 1970; and Lindenwood became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

[8] Lindenwood University has been competing in NAIA athletics for nearly 40 years but has begun the application process for NCAA Division II membership.

[11] On February 12, 2009, the Lindenwood University Board of Directors authorized the administration to begin the application process for NCAA Division II membership.

[14] With expectation of NCAA approval in June 2010 LU applied to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

[15] Lindenwood was approved for membership into the MIAA on September 24, 2010, with the affiliation taking place in 2012–2013 school year for all 17 MIAA-sponsored sports.

[21] The university successfully completed the transition process in 2013 and begins active membership status in the NCAA in the 2013–14 academic year.

[50] The team finished ranked second in the HAAC in 2010, only losing one game in the regular season to first placed MidAmerica Nazarene University 20–26 on September 25, 2010.

Lindenwood suffered a 38–46 loss at home in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series to the University of Saint Francis and finished the 2010 season 9–2 overall, ranked 1st in the NAIA in scoring with an average of 52.5 points per game and 1st in total offensive yards with an average of 551.5 yards per game.

[55] Lindenwood University took a significant step in its athletics program's evolution as it announced its acceptance of an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in the fall of 2022.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, Lindenwood underwent reclassification to Division 1, signifying a notable milestone for its athletics program.

[56] The Ohio Valley Conference, which includes Division 1-AA (FCS) level football, offered a new platform for Lindenwood's sports teams.

Our move to NCAA Division I athletics and membership in the OVC aligns with our strategic plan, supporting enrollment growth, enhancing university visibility, and generating revenue.

We are eager to begin competition at this elevated level and extend a warm welcome to OVC member schools visiting our campus.

The former Oregon State All-American began the inaugural season as a graduate assistant but served as interim head coach after Goerlitz resigned in January.

[76] In September 2011, it was announced that Lindenwood officially submitted an application to join College Hockey America (CHA) for the 2012–2013 season.

[78] The program previously competed at the ACHA Division I level as members of the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association (CCWHA).

After pool play the lady Lions beat University of Rhode Island in the semi-finals before a 2–0 shutout of Michigan State for the national championship.

The Lady Lions struggled early including back-to-back shutouts by the defending NCAA champions, Wisconsin Badgers.

[85] The team also swept former NAIA rival, Robert Morris (IL) in a three-game exhibition series, ending the season with a record of 8–21–0.

[104] Although the program had played in previous championships matches, coming out as the runner-up, it was LU's first and only NAIA men's volleyball title.

The team played its first game in program history on September 4, 2011, in an exhibition match against the St. Louis Bombers RFC, and won by a score of 21–12.

Lindenwood then clinched the 2012 Heart of America 7s tournament, defeating Missouri in the semifinals and Arkansas in the final 21–5, and earning automatic qualification to the 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.

Lindenwood reached the finals of the USA Rugby Division I-AA national playoffs, losing to Central Florida.

[129] In its first season in open college competition the Lady Lions Synchronized Skating Team won the first at the 37th annual Gateway Invitational, held in nearby Brentwood, Missouri.

The stadium is named after Dr. Harlen C. Hunter who founded the St. Louis Orthopedic Sports Medicine Clinic in Chesterfield in 1979, and made key monetary contributions for the upgrades of the playing surface in 1988.

The ice arena is open year-round for public skating sessions, birthday parties, group outings and local high school hockey programs.

It was named after Robert Hyland who was the chairman of the Lindenwood board for many years and was also the CBS Regional Vice President and General Manager of radio station KMOX in St. Louis, Missouri for four decades.

Ohio Valley Conference logo in Lindenwood's colors
Quarterback, David Ortega, dives toward the goal line in a game against Kansas Wesleyan.
Lindenwood plays against Air Force in its first NCAA hockey game on October 7, 2023
A men's lacrosse game between Lindenwood and Air Force in 2023
LU men's rugby
Lindenwood vs. Northern Colorado
(March 2012).
Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood University.
Lindenwood University Ice Arena