Just four years after graduating from the University of Colorado, former women's basketball standout Linda Lappe is making a name for herself, only this time on the sidelines of the hardwood. Lappe was recently named the head women's basketball coach at Metropolitan State College of Denver.
“I am extremely excited to be coming to Metro State to be part of a tradition that only seems to get stronger each year,” Lappe said. “What Metro State athletics has been able to accomplish in the past few years is amazing and I welcome the challenge and opportunity to help women's basketball consistently be one of the top teams in the nation.”
Lappe played for the Buffaloes from 1998-2003. She was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection twice, in 1999 and 2003. Behind her stellar play, she led Colorado to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2001-03, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2003, and an Elite Eight finish in 2002. A two-year captain, Lappe was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a senior in 2002-03.
Lappe becomes the sixth head coach in Metro State history, replacing Dave Murphy, who retired in June after five years at the helm of the program. Metro State is an NCAA Division II school that competes in prestigious Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners graduated just one senior from their 2006-07 team that went 24-7 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
“Working with young people and having an impact on their lives is what gives me the joy of coaching,” Lappe said. “I love the game of basketball and everything about it. If I can teach these young adults how to play the game the way it should be, then I've only done half of my job. You have to do more than coach the sport; you have to be a mentor, a teacher. That's the ultimate goal of coaching.”
Lappe arrives in Denver after spending the 2006-07 season at Colorado State University as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to her stint with the Rams, Lappe spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Drake University, helping the Bulldogs to WNIT berths in 2004 and 2006. Drake posted a record of 47-42 during her tenure and the team earned a grade point average over 3.0 in each of her semesters at the school. The 2005-06 recruiting class was ranked in the top 50 and went on to win the Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2007.
Lappe, a 2002 business school graduate, knows how important her unique experiences at CU have helped her in the ?real world.'
“The toughest thing about being an athlete [at CU] was learning to manage time,” Lappe said. “Taking on the rigors of school work on top of being a Division I athlete can take a toll on you. There is more than just the 3-6 p.m. practices. It's the travel time, watching film, individual workouts. You really learn how to balance your priorities and your life.”
Lappe quietly orchestrated one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent Colorado history. After leading the team in scoring (10.7 ppg.), free throws made (91), percentage (.827), assists (110/3.8 apg.), starts (29), minutes played (32.3 mpg.) and steals (49/1.7 spg.), Lappe was named the team's offensive MVP. She was the first CU freshman since Lisa Van Goor (1980-81) to lead the team in scoring, and she became CU's fourth all-time freshman assist leader with 110 assists.
“The level of talent and the speed of the game makes college basketball so unique,” Lappe said. “Dealing with passionate players who want to be there day in and day out is an awesome thing.”
She returned to action in the 2000-01 season, after having redshirted during the 1999-00 season due to a fracture in her left patella bone, suffered in the first half of Colorado's home-opener against Michigan on November 21. Lappe worked her way back into the Buffalo lineup by the season's end, becoming a key contributor. The redshirt sophomore scored a season-high 22 points on a 7-9 shooting performance, coming off the bench against Missouri, for her best scoring effort since her freshman year. During the Big 12 Tournament, Lappe shot 15-15 at the free throw line over a two day period, setting CU and Big 12 tournament records.
Lappe missed the first 11 games of her junior season, recovering from her second surgery to repair her left ankle. The season culminated into what would become one of Lappe's most memorable games as a Buff.
“Beating Stanford in the NCAA Tournament to move on to the Elite 8 was special,” Lappe said. “We knew we could win and we had a great game plan. On that night there were people who did things they normally don't do, and everyone came together. With our great team chemistry that night, we did what had to be done to win the game.”
Colorado knocked off the highly ranked Stanford team, 62-59, for one of the biggest wins in women's basketball history.
Her senior season ended with another trip to the NCAA Tournament, as the Buffaloes dominated a talented North Carolina squad, 86-67, in the tournament's second round, before falling to Villanova in the Sweet 16, 53-51.
“At Colorado I learned how a class act program is run,” Lappe said. “Seeing everything that my coaches did for us, I learned from that. Every CU athlete is more prepared for life after their time at [this] school. Being taught the concept of teamwork helps these young adults in the workplace; they learn what employers like in their employees.”
Though her time at the University of Colorado is over, Lappe knows how privileged she was to have the opportunity to be a part of a great university, seeing what makes Colorado stand out from the rest.
“The people always make or break a place,” Lappe said. “I was very fortunate to have great teammates, professors, friends, and coaches at CU. You can have the best facilities, winningest athletic programs, the most top-notched education, and that's all wonderful. But if you don't have great people around you, it is not a great experience. CU is a great experience.”
