The Darien News and The Hour of Norwalk are reporting that Lisa Lindley, the very successful girls lacrosse team coach for , has been put on administrative leave after she publicly confronted the team's goalie at a recent game.
Pictures of the incident were caught by a Hearst newspapers photographer, showing Lindley grabbing the helmet of the goalie during the confrontation. The incident occurred last Friday, May 25, at the FCIAC girls lacrosse finals when Darien played Greenwich High School at a Brien McMahon High School field in Norwalk.
Local sports in Fairfield County can be intense for coaches, players and parents. One of the more recent incidents that brought criticism to coaches in the area occurred in New Canaan last year, when youth football coaches encouraged kids to .
Lindley confronted the goalie during a time-out in the first half of the championship game, which Darien won, 17-14.
Darien schools Superintendent Stephen Falcone confirmed that Lindley has been put on administrative leave with pay while the team competes in the state championship, but did not state why or even confirm that the administrative leave was connected to the incident, both newspapers reported.
Lindley is also a gym teacher at , but is continuing to teach there without interruption, the Hour reported. She is also the lacrosse director at Sono Field House in Norwalk, according to the Darien News.
A report in The Hour described Lindley as a "fiery, out-spoken and super successful" coach of the team. She has been coaching it since 1994, according to the Darien News.
Editor's note: This article was originally published at 10:42 a.m., June 1. The time stamp has been changed for layout purposes on the Home page of Darien Patch.
I don't know, you would have to ask Norris. If I were to 'assume' like you do, I'd say that track coaches are more like cattle ranchers of the student body. Also, track is not a true team sport. But that is just my opinion :) Sincerely, Phil
what do we need to ask of steve norris? You say that in order to win, and learn in life, we should embrace abuse. People who get beaten up, have a better chance at succeeding according to the people on here, challenging the notion that this coach may need to tone it down. The point is pretty clear. Coaches at Darien High School--girls programs, have achieved success, and the athletes that graduate , after having run for Norris are also well prepared and balanced. Therefore, your contention that girls sports are better off having had a yelling abuser --one that gets in their faces, is not supported by the likes of steve norris. I dont have to ask him a thing. I watched him....i can easily bet anyone that --not one girl will ever have felt abused by the guy--and yet they win a lot. All this justiification, as I say above, is perfect cognitive dissonance theory. Let me say with certainty, that if lindley is removed, and replaced by a less physical coach--and they win--(and they will) then the girls in the same program, with a different coach, who remain for 4 years-will all give kudos to the new coach.... new style and all. which coach, who wins ever receives from athletes who have stayed through to their senior year---have super negative things to say? the bench players? Maybe. But the starters--no way. Name a DHS coach that wins where the athletes dont support the coach. Go for it...it aint happening. Your theory is bogus.
The thing is--lots of teams at DHS are winning teams. But the coaches are not in your face types.... sure the alumni support lindley.... so do the track athletes of steve norris --a mild mannered good guy. look at dissonance theory. THESE female lax players HAVE to Support LINDLEY. Their minds will not allow anything other than support. But if they have really fair and reasonable parents--they will support them as well. How can nice parents be correct? When you are all saying that a tough coach forms strong character? Its all justification....sorry--but its simple psychology. If you started for 3 years--no matter how unfair this woman is--no matter what the damge--you will support her---thats how the mind works.
You make a lot of assertions..., yet you provide no evidence, other than to say, you believe them to be true. I cant take that away from you.... but can I ask you just a couple of questions? If Lindley 'gets kids into college' and it will take 'decades' to rebuild the program should she leave---why are so many other programs at DHS successful? Just girls alone--the soccer, volleyball, swimming, track, cross country, to name a few have won multiple championships. Are you saying that Marj Trifone of the swim team is a failure? That her supportive methodology doesnt breed successful young women who are prepared for life? Ive mentioned Steve Norris a few times--but are you saying that the women who are on his teams are ill-prepared? Unsuccessful? Your conclusion that without Lindley , the girls lax program will fail--that the girls who enter the program under a new coach, will be less successful in all walks of life is a bold statement. And it would be more believable, if the darien girls lax program were the ONLY successful program, and the only program where girls get into good colleges, and succeed in life. But, until you make that assertion, the idea of a replacement coach, does not seem so fatalistic as you suggest. Somehow, we have 'nice' coaches who have achieved success ---so, while its nice you support Lindely, your assertions that she was uniquely qualified and the sole driving force behind your success or other girls success, is a bit over the top.
Im not off topic. IN order to gauge properly the actions of one coach, it is sometimes useful to compare them to other coaches. Is that fair? I think it is. You say for example, "people move to darien for schools, athletics and coaching staffs. Im not sure if that is actully true--but I see this incident about Lindley being reported on other national news services. Are you sure the image of a coach violently pushing a smaller girl by her helmet is going to get people to move here? But anyway--my point all along, is that you all point to her win-loss record (not unimportant, as other people want to contend) and her character building coaching methods. This is where I think its worth comparing...as you contend that without her aggressive, 'passionate' style, the program is destined to fall into disrepair for 'decades.' That may be your concept...and --Im not going to just say "youre wrong" like so many people. Instead, Id like for you to consider why the boys program does well. (a good DYL) or why the swim program does well ( a supportive coach) or why the track team does well ( a supportive coach and team spirt) and then consider, how the success of these other teams at DHS has come without benefit of Lisa Lindley. Or her style. If every coach that had a winning record emulated Lindley-then you'd have a point. But cant you see that other teams have been successful without her style? Why is her style uniquely qualified to lead Darien girls lax?
Weird Your earlier comment said that this is the latest "darien media gossip system" Now youre saying its the crazyiest thing you ever read. Maybe you need to decide if this is the norm, or the craziest thing you ever read?? Im thinking you are trying to silence people--and --it isnt having much effect. The pictures tell the story---the comments on here are intended to either support the coach, or make statements that disagree with this type of conduct. If that is gossip--then gossip has a purpose.
Clearly, the article in the time articulates that Lisa's CHARACTER does trump the wins and the loses. She CLEARLY had an impact beyond the lacrosse field. The fact that you are writing such atrocious statements about someone you probably don't know shows a lot about your character, Ms. Keegan.
http://www.darientimes.com/blue-wave-high-school-sports/5003400-championing-a-champion-former-wave-ladies-laxers-speak-out-about-lindley.html
Im not sure they do...but why does the school think it can breathalyze students at off-site events? Why can a kid get suspended and kicked off a team for 'inappropraite behavior' but an adult, who should know better, have superior rights to a student? Some of these young women are 18 years old--yet if they are in the same room as someone drinking, they get kicked off the team. If the coach , or a school nurse was there, then they get an entire process. I wonder what would happen, if there were 10 girls who at one time or another, signed a letter saying the reason they quit the team was because of Lindley. Would the same people who place value on the letters from supportive girls, find the naysayers simply spoiled grapes complainers, and dismiss their ideas? Who knows. But, I think people have their mind made up , if this behavior is acceptable, or not. So--yeah --maybe its time to move on.