Lindenwood began with high expectations, intending from the outset to advance to higher levels of college rugby competition as the program matures.

[9] Lindenwood's performance during the fall 2011 regular season qualified the Lions for the March 2012 Division II West Region playoffs.

In the quarterfinals, Lindenwood faced its toughest match of the playoffs against #2 ranked Wisconsin–Whitewater, the reigning Division II National Champions.

Lindenwood prevailed 27-15, led by fullback Morgan Findlay's 3 tries, to advance to the USA Rugby DII Final Four and cement its #1 ranking in Division II.

[19] Lindenwood accounted for one third of all players named to the All D2 team, most notably Morgan Findlay, considered one of the best fullbacks in North American rugby, and flanker Trevor Locke, the championship MVP.

[21] The Lions were promoted to Division 1-AA for the 2012-13 season to play in the Heart of America conference against regional rivals such as Missouri and Kansas.

[25] Sophomores Morgan Findlay and Tyler Black were named by Rugby Mag to the college All-Americans team for the 2012-13.

[28] The win in the HOA 7s tournament also earned the Lions automatic qualification to the 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.

[30] During the summer of 2013, Lindenwood hired as assistant coach the Fijian international Seru Rabeni who had played in two Rugby World Cups.

[31] During the 2013-14 winter break, the program announced that Ron Laszewski was stepping down as head coach, and that JD Stephenson was taking the reins.

[32] Lindenwood won the 2012 USA Rugby Division II National Championship with a 50-12 win against Salisbury at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.