'Philosophical differences with today's athletic world' leads to Linder's resignation as KSU softball coach
By Allen Moff | Staff WriterPublished: August 31, 2015 4:00AM
The landscape of collegiate athletics has changed considerably since Karen Linder's softball coaching career began over three decades ago.
Linder has obviously adapted well to the evolution, earning 801 victories while directing programs at Kent State and Ashland over the past 30 years. But the adaptation process has taken its toll on the veteran mentor.
Linder resigned as coach of the Golden Flashes on Friday, and cited "philosophical differences with today's athletic world" as the main reason she made the decision when reached by phone on Sunday.
"It's time for me to move in another direction, because the world of athletics has changed," said Linder. "The kids are different, the recruiting process is different, the university and the administration is different. I feel like my job has become centered around trying to make everyone happy, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to do that without compromising my values and principles.
"There are so many people that we have to please, and I don't think that's what athletics is supposed to be about. It's made coaching increasingly more difficult. So I feel that it's time for me to move on."
Linder leaves KSU after earning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in her career last spring, when her Flashes won 41 games and captured their fourth MAC regular season title under her tutelage. She is the second-winningest coach in MAC softball history with 546 wins at Kent State.
Her Flashes have also shined in the classroom, recording a 3.478 team GPA during the 2015 spring semester and boasting one the top 30 team GPAs in the nation in each of the past six years.
Obviously, stepping down after such a long and successful ride was not an easy decision.
"It is a hard decision for me to leave, because I have enjoyed my time here," said Linder. "I've had great relationships with so many people on my staff, in the softball world, people within the university, the players and their families. All of those people have enriched my life. It has been an honor to be able to coach here and be successful over such an extended period of time. I credit the assistant coaches that have worked with me, the players that we've had and the support staff at Kent State."
Linder's coaching roots run deep. Her father, the late Dick Fishbaugh, coached baseball at Otterbein for 33 seasons. She matched his career victory total of 617 in 2010, and together they are the only father and daughter in NCAA history to each win 600 games as head coaches.
Perhaps since she's been in and around coaching for so long, some of the changes that have come about in modern day athletics are more difficult for Linder to accept.
"When I first started coaching kids wanted to play, and they looked at you as a leader. If you told kids to do something, they would do it because they trusted that it was going to help them get better," said Linder. "Now when you tell a kid to do something, some of them need three reasons why they need to do it this way. It's a world of entitlement, and I've struggled with that."
Changes in recruiting methods have also been a major source of frustration for Linder.
"Right now everybody's in a hurry to get the next superstar, and we're offering kids scholarships when they're eighth and ninth graders, which I strongly disagree with," said Linder. "But you're put in a situation where if you don't get involved in the recruiting process with that kid when she's a freshman, you're not going to get her. I don't believe in that, and it's extremely frustrating to me."
Now that she's no longer coaching softball, Linder hopes to eventually find ways to change the direction of collegiate athletics.
"I want to be an advocate for softball and have a positive influence on maybe changing what the current environment is, to bring some of the principles, values and philosophies back that have allowed me to be successful," she said. "I enjoy educating people about the recruiting process. I enjoy doing camps. I'm hoping to run some camps and be involved in summer tournaments, and use that to be able to help better educate kids, parents and coaches about recruiting. Hopefully I can have an impact on slowing the process down.
"I would also consider working for a coach's association, conference or even the NCAA if any opportunities would open up."
Linder has been flattered by the outpouring of support she's received since announcing her resignation. Her Facebook page is currently filled with supportive posts from former players, coaches and other loyal followers.
"Our program always strived for academic and athletic excellence. That's what I stressed to every player I recruited," she said. "I feel very proud that I accomplished that, and I'm grateful to the players and coaches that helped me achieve that success. I'm proud of our alumni and the people that they've become, how they've gone out into the world and made positive contributions in their professions and their families in whatever it is that they're doing. I feel that's my biggest accomplishment, how I've helped so many people grow and be able to affect other people in other professions because of the experiences they had at Kent State."
