Silver Lake obtains new teacher, coach
by Chelsea Reid
October 06, 2009
A new year brings new faces to the Silver Lake district. This year, many senior students get the chance to learn from new teacher, Linndy Frieden. He currently teaches Economics and American Government. He will also be the new head boys’ basketball coach.
“When I was a junior in high school, I decided I wanted to teach and coach. I think each day is a new challenge and I enjoy being part of the process of watching students grow and mature,” said Frieden.
Frieden has been teaching for 19 years. He began teaching at Conway Springs, located in Conway Springs, KS, in 1991 where he taught World History and Geography. From 1994-1997, Frieden taught Sociology and American History at Atwood High School, located in Atwood, KS. From 1997-2004, he taught Government and Sociology at Douglass High School, located in Douglass, KS. Then before coming here, he taught Current Events and World History at Kingman High School, located in Kingman, KS.
“I decided to teach here at Silver Lake because I thought it would be a great opportunity for me and my family. The tradition this school has in academics and sports was very appealing. I could definitely see my kids graduating from Silver Lake,” stated Frieden.
So far Frieden has enjoyed his time here at Silver Lake but it is a little different from what he is used to since SLHS has block scheduling but each day gets a little easier for him.
“I enjoy talking to the other teachers and coaches and finding out what makes them successful. Also, the administration has been great and very helpful. The students have worked hard in the classroom and have been very respectful, which I like,” said Frieden.
As well as teaching, Frieden has also decided to become the head boys’ basketball coach. He has experience coaching from previous jobs. He was the head boys’ basketball coach as well as assistant football coach at Blue-Valley Randolph, located in Randolph, KS, and then the head girls’ basketball coach at Conway Springs. He was also the head boys’ basketball and assistant football coach at Atwood High and the head boys’ basketball and tennis coach at Kingman. Also, he was the head boys’ basketball coach at Douglass, and tennis coach at Manhattan High, in Manhattan, Ks.
“I think Silver Lake has a lot of tradition, just not as much in basketball as other sports. We have good athletes in the building, but we need to keep working on our basketball skills if we want to get where we want to be. It’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to, and I’m excited to get started. Silver Lake has had great success in their other sports programs, and I hope someday the boys basketball program can reach the same level. Each year the goal is to make it to the State tournament. I think we play a tough schedule, but I know we will be better in February than December.
A new coach means new policies for the basketball team that the boys will have to follow.
“This year I will be implementing new rules for the boys. They will not be allowed to have facial hair. For home games they must wear ties and for away games they will wear slacks and a shirt,” stated Frieden.
This summer, many of the boys played in a summer basketball league in Manhattan, KS. Also 19 boys did individual workouts with Frieden and 30 boys attended the team camp. Frieden felt the boys were better than he expected but they still have a lot of work to do.
“I love the competition part of basketball and the challenge each year to make the team the best we can be,” said Frieden.
Frieden and his family moved here on June 13 and spent most of the summer coaching basketball, getting to know the boys, and working on his new house. They just recently finished their basement so they are enjoying that.
“Everything is pretty much basketball and spending time with the family. I do enjoy playing fantasy sports and I try to watch, “Days of our Lives,” and “The Young and the Restless,” at night from 10-12. I am also a big St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan so each night they play I try to either watch them on TV or listen to the games on the radio. My family usually tries to go to St. Louis during the summer and watch baseball for our vacation,” said Frieden.
Frieden is married to, Deeann, and has three kids: Carsyn who is in kindergarten, and two and a half year old twins Cooper and Kennedy.
“We really like our neighborhood. Everyone has been nice and made us feel welcome. I never knew Silver Lake was so close to Topeka. We really like going into Topeka to shop and eat.
“We love it here so far, but we are taking it day by day. Kingman was about an hour from our folks and Silver Lake is about three and a half hours away from home. I think our parents really miss seeing the grandkids,” said Frieden.
