Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan

Strong Out of the Gate

(St. Louis, MO) – Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan has only known success. The Lions’ new head women’s basketball coach was one of Truman State’s all-time best players and in fourteen seasons as a head coach, she has followed Al Davis’ mantra. The former Oakland Raiders owner is known for saying ‘just win baby’.

Eagan won at St. Ambrose, Truman State and Drury. She intends on winning at Lindenwood and she looks strong out of the gate. Her recruiting chops are evident by the players she’s landed and the coaching staff she is assembling.

While speaking with the first-time Division 1 head coach, you can feel the confidence, energy and joy that she carries into ‘The Bob’ (the Hyland Center). This is a coach with her feet on the ground, but with her vision set extremely high.

Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan – Winning Everywhere

As a student-athlete Eagan is extremely successful. She is (was) the program’s all-time leader in steals and assists. Eagan’s name pops up all over the Truman State record book. She is the program’s all-time leader in assists (529), steals (328), made free throws (483) and is fourth on the scoring list with 1,527 points. Her 46-point performance against a now OVC opponent Southern Indiana, is the Bulldog record.

After playing professionally, she returned to states to coach. With assistant positions and stops in the NAIA Eagan was demonstrating the ability to create a winning dynamic. Helping Quincy to NCAA D2 tournament, turning around Ashford University’s fortunes and leading Saint Ambrose to great heights, led Eagan back to Kirksville, Missouri.

Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan accumulated a record of 111-62 at Truman where she set records for wins and winning percentage. Her teams accomplished a 100 percent graduation rate with a 3.4 grade point average. She knows how to win on the court and in the classroom.

Eagan’s success at Drury is eye popping. Three conference championships in three seasons with a record of 87-9, Eagan was named NCAA D2 Coach of the Year in 2021 when her Panthers were the national runner-up. During those three seasons, Eagan coached 13 all-GLVC players including recent WNBA draftee Paige Robinson.

Based on this pedigree, Lindenwood fans are excited about championship prospects for the Lions.

“We plan on winning championships and cutting down nets,” said Eagan. “We may not win on in the very first season, but we will be contending very soon.”

Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan – Building Her Staff

Eagan believes in building a top flight staff and program.

“I’ve always believed the key to success is surrounding yourself with good people,” said Eagan. “I couldn’t be happier with the staff members we’ve hired so far.”

Jordan Mellott was an Eagan assistant at Drury and quickly joined the Lindenwood staff. After three seasons with Eagan, he wanted to continue the partnership. Mellott was a highly successful high school coach and has proven to be a valuable part of Eagan’s success.

Mellott was 2022 NCAA-II’s Assistant Coach of the Year by the WBCA. Eagan says Mellott’s addition to the staff is an immensely important step.

“He knows how we do things,” said Eagan. “With Jordan around we can more quickly implement our systems and values with this entirely new team.”

The Benedictine graduate will be an integral part of recruiting and on court instruction.

Alexis Hyder is listed as team’s ‘recruiting coordinator and comes to Lindenwood from North Texas where she was the Mean Green’s video coordinator. Hyder played collegiately at NTU and also played professionally. Eagan believes Hyder has a bright coaching future and will be an invaluable part of the staff.

There will likely be another assistant coach and a Director of Basketball Operations hired later this summer.

Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan – Filling the Roster

Unofficial announcements have been made by a number of players relating to committing to Lindenwood but Eagan couldn’t discuss names with me at the time of this interview. However, she is noticeably excited about the current construction of the 2023 roster.

“All three ladies that signed with the previous coaching staff have decided to continue their commitment to Lindenwood,” said Eagan. “The previous coaching staff did a great job recruiting them, and we’re grateful they chose to stay.”

Kaliyah Sain, Mya Skoff and Aalayah Wilson all come to St. Charles with outstanding high school credentials and good size. All three are listed as guards and only Wilson is shorter than 5’10. Each is a prolific scorer while Wilson was re-writing record books at her Maple Grove, Minnesota high school.

Three players remain from Katie Falco’s last squad. Leading scorer Mary McGrath (12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds) as the headliner, but Makayla Wallace and Reagan Rapert have skills. Rapert was an all-freshman team member in the SoCon league two seasons ago.

McGrath finished thirteenth in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and sixth in rebounding.

Three players, Mykyla Cunningham, Alyssa Nielsen and Gracie Kelsey are officially signed with the Lions. Cunningham is a 5’9 wing from Salina, Kansas with a solid all round game. The 6’ Nielsen is ranked as the twentieth best player in Oklahoma and Kelsey is the State of Missouri’s 18^th ranked player who averaged a double double at her Gower, Missouri high school.

Eagan says Nielsen has a very complete game.

“She runs the floor extremely well and can score in multiple ways,” said Eagan.

Kelsey is versatile too.

“Being 6’2, Gracie has the ability to shoot the three, attack the rim or score with her back to the basket,” said Eagan.

Verbal Commits Awaiting 

While Eagan couldn’t comment on these players, junior college transfers Justis Odom and Kaylen Evans have announced their verbal commitments to Lindenwood. Evans was a second-team juco all-American last season and made 114 three pointers.

Another Oklahoma prep standout Ellie Brueggeman has announced on social media her commitment to Eagan and the Lions. Prior to Eagan’s hiring at Lindenwood, Brueggeman had committed to Drury. Nielson and Kelsey also originally signed with Eagan and the Panthers.

If those verbal commitments hold, Eagan has twelve legitimate players already. As the Lions’ men’s team proved last season the difference between high level D2 players and genuine contributors at the D1 level is very small.

Lindenwood’s Amy Eagan has won everywhere she’s been and is familiar with The Hyland Center from previous trips there in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Obviously, she’s familiar with Southern Indiana from participation in the GLVC.

She still has staff to add and perhaps a player or two, but Amy Eagan looks strong out of the gate.

Do Good