Lindwall, Chris

It’s been a common theme in the athletic and coaching life, as well as the administrative life, of Chris Lindwall, who often noted, “You are only as good as the people who surround you.”

As Lindwall reflected back on his career and his induction at the 37th annual Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on April 26 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Lindwall talked fondly of a select group of people, players, coaches, and administrators who helped him in his ultimate quest of guiding young women to reach their goals and aspirations.

Lindwall has the distinction of being the state’s only girls varsity basketball coach to guide two different teams to state titles - first at Joel Barlow of Redding (1985 Class M state title win over The Morgan School-Clinton, 58-54) and at St. Joseph-Trumbull (2015 Class M state title win over Cromwell, 50-44).

He is in his third year as the athletic director at the all-girls school, Lauralton Hall, in Milford.

When Lindwall was a high school three-sport athlete and aspiring basketball guard at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield in the 1980s, he admitted he struggled academically.

But noted it was his high school basketball coach, Mike Abraham, who made a huge impact and helped turn his life around.

“I struggled to make the varsity and sat on the bench until my junior year, ” he said. “Mr. Abraham pushed me to fight through the challenges I faced and helped keep me going (strong) academically and athletically. Sometimes it was tough love, but he found a way to get the best out of me and everyone.”

Another invaluable person, former Joel Barlow soccer coach Jim Dolan, who taught Lindwall an invaluable lesson about handling tough, pressured situations and controlling his emotions.

“In my first year of coaching, Jim pulled me aside and told me that I had too much to offer the kids, the program and the school and to not let my emotions get to me, ” Lindwall recalled. “He said that I needed to calm it down. That sit-down talk changed me (forever).”

What makes Lindwall’s path to the hall of fame even more noteworthy was that a coaching career was the least likely career considering he was a Human Performance (exercise physiology) major at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

While he played basketball for legendary Owls head coach Art Leary when he arrived in college as a freshman, an injury would sideline him and ultimately end his playing days.

At the time of his graduation, Lindwall’s dad, Dennis, a 1961 Fairfield Warde graduate and basketball guard, was on the verge of retiring from his job as a top salesman for LA Gear at age 50. Dennis Lindwall’s goal was to open up a local deli in Fairfield, and he asked his son to help him jumpstart the business, which he gladly did.
“My dad asked what I was planning to do after I graduated, and I said ‘I had no idea, ’” Lindwall recalled. “I thought maybe I’d work in Corporate Fitness. My dad was a workaholic and had no fear. He told me that would pay me a decent salary if I helped with the deli.”

Lindwall gladly accepted, and the father and son began a thriving business.

When Dennis Lindwall passed away from lung cancer, Chris and his mom, Maria, kept the business going before selling it after nine years.
“My dad would want me to make a go of it, ” Lindwall said. “He’d say, ‘Don’t give up. Find a way.’”

The same thing would apply with coaching pursuits.

When an assistant coaching opening in softball was available at Joel Barlow, “Pam Goodpaster (former Joel Barlow athletic director) took a chance on a 23 soon-to-be 24 year old, ” he noted.

When the girls basketball job became vacant in 1990, Lindwall said Goodpaster offered him another chance and Lindwall took advantage of the opportunity, guiding the team for eight seasons until 1998, compiling a 137-58 overall record along with four divisional South-West Conference titles and the 1998 SWC championship.

He also coached at the AAU level in the offseason, guiding a 16-year-old team with coach Beryl Piper to national prominence.
“I am an energetic person and have been in athletics my whole life, and we had a good group who gave a lot of effort in the offseason and outside of basketball, ” said Lindwall. “From 1993-to-1998 we had 20 wins every single season.”

Not necessarily seeking another opportunity, a friend of Lindwall suggested he apply for an assistant coaching position at Fairfield University, then coached by Dianne Nolan.

At the time, Lindwall was working as a paraprofessional at Joel Barlow.
“I had an interview with Dianne, and it went well, but she said he was to interview two other candidates, ” he said. “The next day, Dianne called and said ‘How would you like to join the family.’ I said ‘Yes.’”

Lindwall and the Fairfield team enjoyed much success, advancing to two NCAA Division I Tournaments.

A few years away from the game, Lindwall returned to the court, this time taking over the girls program at St. Joseph in Trumbull, thanks to the request of then athletic director Jim Olayos.

“Jim used the same words that Dianne (Nolan) did, ‘Would you like to join the family.’ We went 18-2 in the regular season that first year in 2011 and the program took off. We had only one losing season through 2022.

“I learned a lot from Vito Montelli (legendary St. Joseph boys basketball coach) who always said to academically encourage kids, ” said Lindwall. “He said ‘we’re a small (Catholic) school, but if you build the program, they will come and want to be a part of it.”

Lindwall guided the Cadets to a 156-87 record over 13 seasons, which included two FCIAC titles in 2022 and 2024 and four other divisional crowns in 2011, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

“I have been blessed with good people around me, great assistants, great administrations and great families and great kids. It hasn’t been about the wins and losses. It’s about the environment you put the kids in. It’s not about me. I have a lot of humbleness. I am blessed.”

Lindwall and his wife Janice have two children, Justin, 26, and Julie, 22. They, along with Maria, his mom, will be in attendance at the dinner.