Bio

Linze (Leimkuehler) Hawkins is in her first season as assistant coach on the track team's staff. 

Hawkins, a 2008 graduate of Missouri Valley College was a four-year member of the track and field team. She won two conference championships, winning the 55-meter dash at the 2005 Heart of America Athletic Conference Indoor Championships. Hawkins was also a member of the Heart Outdoor Championships 4x100 meter relay team in 2007. Hawkins was a 10-time Heart All-Conference performer in indoor track, and a 10-time All-Conference performer in outdoor track.  She qualified to compete in the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships four times, and was a four-time qualifier for the NAIA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  Hawkins earned NAIA All-American honors in outdoor track in 2005 and 2007, and was a two-time selection to the NAIA All-American Academic Team in 2006 and 2007.  She still holds one school record with a time of 7.83 seconds in the 60 meter dash, set in 2005. 

While at Missouri Valley College, Coach Linze earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, Physical Education. She also earned a Masters in Education Administration in 2021, also from Missouri Valley College.

Hawkins was inducted into the Missouri Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. 

Hawkins now competes in long distance races, having completed 26 half marathons, over 100 5k road races and 1 marathon. She has also competed in the Show-Me-State Games for 25 consecutive years. Aside from running Hawkins’ has also competed in several duathlons  and triathlons. 

Hawkins has worked in higher education for close to a decade with previous experience in financial aid and teaching.  Coach Linze is married to Drew Hawkins, Head Women's Soccer coach at Missouri Valley College.