Linda Anderson: Inspired Students To Achieve Potential Both On Field and In Classroom
By Maria Sonnenberg // May 3, 2017
Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer
ABOVE VIDEO: Linda Anderson – 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame
30 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Some athletes earn their success through individual achievements. Linda Anderson, the 2017 recipient of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award, earned her stripes by inspiring students to achieve their potential both on the field and in the classroom.
As athletic director at Satellite High School, Anderson was critically instrumental in Satellite High School’s win of the coveted Cape Coast Conference All Sports Trophy for a dozen years.
As director of guidance until she took over Satellite High’s athletic desk, Anderson is the go-to person whenever a student athlete has an issue on or off the field.
“I have found that I’ve done more counseling as an athletic director than when I was in guidance,” she said.
“When you’re interacting with students through sports, you’re building relationships and they come to you for help with anything that is going on in their lives.”
SUPERVISING 19 HEAD COACHES
Her complex job entails supervising 19 head coaches, listening to concerns and resolving conflicts and overseeing all school-related extra-curricular and club activities, plus doing direct coaching.
As she contemplates retirement next year, Anderson looks back at her long career with Satellite High, which she joined in 1987 after serving Cocoa High School in the English and guidance departments.
“My first couple of months on the job, I thought that there was no way I could do the job,” she admitted.
It turns out she was a natural for the position, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues, students and parents. Her ability to find the top coaches for any sport has made Satellite somewhat of a “destination” high school for many families.
“We have a coaching staff that is so excellent that we find some families move into the area just to take advantage of the opportunity for their student athletes to work with them,” said Anderson.
“Our community and our parents are also very supportive of our school and our student athletes.”
HIGHLY VALUED MENTOR TO MANY
Under Anderson’s leadership, Satellite High’s girls’ soccer team captured several national championships and the swim team easily garnered several state championships.
Her own four children, all now grown, attended Satellite, and three of them were three-sport athletes, while the fourth, the musical one in the family, played in the band, and also on the softball field. If she has any regrets, it is that she was born too soon.
“I graduated at the time that Title 9 was just coming into play and there few sports for girls,” said the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, native.
She took up distance running in her 20s, but these days she prefers paddleboarding and cycling. Retirement will bring more time to enjoy these sports, as well as time with Bodhi, her eight-year-old soccer enthusiast grandson.
Anderson’s proudest moments happen on a regular basis every year when she hears that her athletes have been recruited by colleges because of their abilities.
“It is always so exciting to hear they’re going on to the next level,” she said.
THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com
CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced, Induction Ceremony Set May 12
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.
Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.
Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.
Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.
Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, Assistant Editor Alan Zlotorzynski, local youth sports advocate and promoter Mike Cadore, Friday Night Locker Room Founders Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison, Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and AAU Vice President Rusty Buchanan.
“The list of inductees for 2017 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.
Related Story:ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, Leaders
INDUCTION GALA & SPORTS AWARDS SET FOR MAY 12
The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 12 at the Cocoa Beach County Club.
The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty, dinner and the induction proceeding which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.
The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple..
FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017
• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Joe Kohlbrand, Football; and Cory Philpot, Football
• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jason Arnold, Baseball; Michael Coffey, Bowling; Reggie Hannah, Basketball; Paige Kearns, Swimming; and Charles Wilson, Football.
• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Kristen Gordon, Softball; Ray Herring, Jr. Football; Katie Jackson, Soccer; and Hunter Pingston, Football.
• AMATEUR/REC CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Richard Chapman, Little League; Todd Erickson, Softball; Al Genchi, Youth Soccer; and David Kilgore, Running.
• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Skip Arrich, Soccer; Tom Dooley, Baseball; Chuck Keener, Tennis; Steve Lamontagne, Golf; and Mike Soliven, Basketball.
• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEES: Jeff Carr, Eastern Florida State College; and Steve Englehart, Florida Tech.
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Linda Anderson, Athletic Director; and Les Stafford, Volunteer
• SPORTS OFFICIALS INDUCTEES: Neely Dunn and Bob Walton.
• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Hillard Grossman.
• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE : Gary Gregory, PAL Boxing.
• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics – Coach Cindy Dropeski, Athlete Chuck Conway and Volunteer Kathi Madden.
• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa High School 2016 Football State Champions.
• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Jim Grimes, Basketball, Eastern Florida State College
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CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
