Coach McLinden is in her second season as a graduate student assistant coach with the Ottawa University women’s basketball program.
McLinden comes to Ottawa University from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. A standout student-athlete, McLinden was a four-year member of the Terriers’ softball program and served as team captain during the 2024-25 season. She was recognized for her academic excellence with multiple honors, including the President’s List and Dean’s List, as well as receiving the North Atlantic Conference All-Conference Sportsmanship Award.
While at Thomas, McLinden built an impressive résumé of athletics operations and coaching support experience. She has worked with the Alfond Youth and Community Center (AYCC) as an Athletics Specialist since 2023, coordinating league operations, playoff scheduling, and game management. She also served as the Director of Operations for Thomas College Men’s Basketball, where she oversaw scouting reports, statistical tracking, travel arrangements, and day-to-day practice support. In addition, she contributed to game day operations for multiple Thomas College athletic programs, gaining valuable behind-the-scenes experience across several sports.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., McLinden also distinguished herself in high school, earning the Female Athlete of the Year award at St. Edmund Preparatory High School in 2021 while completing an internship in athletic administration.
McLinden earned her degree in Sport Management with minors in Coaching and Finance from Thomas College. She is working on her MBA with a concentration in Sport Business.
