Written by Tim Petermann, former UWEC Athletics Sports Information Director
Sally Linzmeier, a women's basketball assistant coach, received the 2021 Ade & Margaret Olson Coaching Award at the Blugold Hall of Fame banquet Friday, October 15.
The Ade & Margaret Olson Coaching Award is a $500 cash stipend available to any part-time assistant coach, graduate assistant or community coach in any of the 25 sports in the Blugold sports module. The award honors the memory of two UW-Eau Claire legends who dedicated their teaching to helping students achieve their education goals. Ade Olson was a charter member of the Blugold Hall of Fame in 1973. The criteria for the award named in honor of Olson and his wife, Margaret, dictate that the recipient "demonstrate a deep commitment to the student-athletes and embody a passion for lifelong learning and a love of the game."
LInzmeier, who is in her sixth year teaching high school math in the Chippewa Falls School District after graduating from UW-Superior, has worked three seasons with Tonja Englund's women's basketball program. Besides teaching math at Chi-Hi, Linzmeier is also an assistant to girls basketball coach Becca Bestul, a former Blugold All-American. After the high school practice, she drives to Zorn Arena to help at practice in the time remaining. Englund said that her "arrival at practice is always a highlight for the players and her dedication to the team and our success is inspirational to everyone." She added that "even though she is several years beyond her playing career, she still can step in to demonstrate advanced skills, lead the scout team and she teaches the guard position like no other."
Linzmeier initially became associated with Englund through the Blugold Girls Basketball Camps as a lead summer instructor. Englund said that "during the 22 years that I have spent in education and coaching, working with future leaders, Sally stands far above all other role models as a teacher. It is rare to find a young person of such high caliber in terms of her knowledge, passion to teach and maturity."
Last year, in order to remain in the bubble with the Blugold squad, Linzmeier would drive down to Eau Claire between classes three times a week for COVID testing with the rest of the team.
Linzmeier, who grew up in Valders, Wisconsin, was a three-sport athlete at UW-Superior in soccer, basketball and softball but exceled in basketball where she was a two-time All-American and two-time WIAC player of the year. She helped Superior win its only conference championship in 2015 when she led the league in scoring, assists and steals while placing third in rebounding. She holds the Superior career scoring record with 1,686 points. A standout student, she was the 2015 WIAC Scholar-Athlete in basketball as well.
