ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Head coach Amy Eagan from Lindenwood women's basketball has announced her 2025-26 finalized staff for this upcoming season. Eagan has promoted Lindsay Ward to an assistant coach while former Lindenwood point guard Makayla Wallace has been added as the new Director of Operations.

Ward returns for her third season on the Lindenwood coaching staff moving into her first year as an assistant coach. For the past two season, Ward has been the Director of Operations helping the Lions grow each season including an appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game this past March.

Over her time in St. Charles, Ward has been a crucial piece for the Lindenwood coaching staff helping coach All-OVC First Team selection Ellie Brueggemann along with All-OVC Second Team selection Brooke Coffey. She was also instrumental in helping build the annual Pink Out Game and Education Game.

Prior to her time at Lindenwood, Ward was an assistant coach at Benedictine University for two season. During the 2021-22 season, Benedictine won 17 games while making a NACC semifinal appearance. Ward primarily worked with the guards and coached Hana Piro to finish seventh in the NACC in assists per game (3.0) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).

After her playing career, she served as a graduate assistant at William Woods. During that time Ward coached one all-conference performer and helped recruit the 2021-22 America Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year.

Ward is no stranger to the Lindenwood women's basketball program as the Crocker, Mo. native suited up for the Lions from 2016-2020. Over that time, Ward amassed over 1,100 career points and holds the single-season and program record for assists with 433. At the conclusion of her senior season, the Lions had gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments and had broken into the WBCA Top 25 rankings multiple times. Ward capped off her career by earning All-GLVC honors her senior year while also earning Academic All-Conference honors.

Wallace will begin her first season on the Lindenwood bench as the Director of Operations. A former two-year player for Lindenwood, Wallace was on Eagan's first team in St. Charles, Mo. leading the team in assists with 85 while setting the Lindenwood single season record for steals with 72.

"I could not be more excited to welcome Makayla back home and back into our Lindenwood family," said Eagan. "Makayla is a big reason we have built this program into a contender. She helped us lay the groundwork for our culture and who we wanted to be on and off the floor in our first year at Lindenwood. I am excited for her to continue to impact our young women and to help us continue our growth to new heights."

During her final season at Lindenwood, Wallace appeared and started in all 28 games for the Lions, averaging 7.3 points, 3.0 assists, 1.9 rebounds, as well as 2.6 steals per game in 26 minutes per game. She scored a season-high 16 points going a perfect 7-7 from the field in a win over SEMO. She graduated from Lindenwood with her MBA in Leadership.

In Lindenwood's first Division I season, Wallace played in 24 games for the Lions while making eight starts at point guard. She averaged 3.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 rebounds a game while shooting 46.2% from the field. 

Prior to her time at Lindenwood, Wallace played at both Evansville and North Dakota.

For more information on Lindenwood women's basketball, please visit lindenwoodlions.com.