Hall of Fame
Linda Lowery has held various positions of leadership at Concordia University and is being honored for nearly 30 years of service to the institution. Since her arrival in 1980, she has served as the school's head volleyball coach (1980-1998), Athletic Director (1982-2008) and head men's and women's golf coach (1998-2008). In addition, she was an assistant and associate professor in the kinesiology department before being granted professor emeritus status in January 2008.
Lowery began her career as a successful high school volleyball and basketball coach before moving to the collegiate ranks as the head volleyball coach at the University of Texas at Austin, where she compiled a 65-34 ledger over two seasons. After her stint with the Longhorns, Lowery piloted the Tornado volleyball program for 18 years before retiring after the 1998 season. A three-time District IV Coach of the Year, Lowery mentored three All-America players and 14 student-athletes who were all-district (NAIA) selections.
As the school's Athletic Director for 26 years, Lowery transitioned the Concordia Athletic Department from the NAIA to the NCAA by adding seven additional intercollegiate teams – men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis and softball - in 1998. She was named the NAIA Female Athletic Administrator of the Year in 1992 and the recipient of the James Keller Sportsmanship, Leadership and Integrity Award in 2008.
A native of Houston, Texas, Lowery earned her bachelor's degree in teaching at Sam Houston State in 1971, where she was a four-year letterwinner and starter for the volleyball and badminton teams. She helped lead the volleyball program to a state title and was also the consolation badminton champion at the national tournament. Lowery also earned a master's degree in education from Sam Houston State in 1979.
