Corey Bethany enters his fourth season on the Lindenwood football staff in 2023 as coach of the quarterbacks.
In its first NCAA Division I season, the Lions went 7-3 record, including a 4-1 mark inside Hunter Stadium. Lindenwood picked up a thrilling 21-20 road win over Houston Baptist, as they blocked a punt with 28 seconds left, which was recovered in the end zone for a game-winning score. Lindenwood earned another road victory on October 8 in a 52-49 win over Central Arkansas, which was the start of a four-game winning streak. During that stretch, Lindenwood earned its fist win inside conference play after defeating Murray State in week six. The Lions received votes in the FCS weekly poll on three different occasions during the year. The Lions accumulated 10 all-conference selections and nine OVC weekly accolades, while Kobe McClendon was named a Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American after an impressive 2022 campaign.
In 2021, the Lions won their second-consecutive GLVC Championship with another perfect season in league play. Lindenwood closed out the season with a 9-3 record, while going 7-0 in the conference. Robert Giaimo was named the GLVC Freshman of the Year as a running back. The Lions accumulated 21 all-conference selections, including 10 on the offensive-side of the ball. Lindenwood earned its second appearance in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs for the second time since joining the NCAA. Academically, the Lions compiled three CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, while two moved on to earn Academic All-American accolades.
Â
In week three of the season, the Lions tied the program record for most rushing touchdowns in a game with eight. Cade Brister ran the ball in five times, which was the most by an individual in 16 years. Lindenwood went into Kirksville, Mo. to upset No. 18 Truman State with the help of three rushing scores from Robert Giaimo. Lindenwood capped of the regular season with a win over McKendree, marking 14-consecutive wins for the Lions in the conference.
In the summer of 2020, Lindenwood earned a ranking of No. 13 in the Street and Smith Preseason Poll, while receiving the No. 17 spot in the LINDY'S Sports Preseason Poll. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020 season was delayed. On October 6, 2020, the GLVC Council of Presidents voted to move the season into the spring semester, which featured a shortened schedule. On March 18, 2021, the Lindenwood football program opted out of the spring season out of concern for the health and well-being of the student-athletes.
Bethany comes to Lindenwood after spending four seasons as the head coach of St. Mary's High School in St. Louis, Mo. During his tenure, Bethany compiled a record of 31-16. In 2019, St. Mary's won the district championship, and moved on to the state semifinals. Prior to his time at St. Mary's, Bethany was the offensive coordinator at Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, Mo. While serving as the offensive coordinator, the Cadets won the 2014 state championship. The Cadets won back-to-back district championships, while the team took second at state in 2015.
Bethany was an assistant coach at Lindbergh High School for three seasons, helping the Flyers to a 23-8 record during that span. Outside of high school coaching, Bethany was the head coach of the River City Raiders of the American Indoor Football league in 2016. Bethany served as the offensive coordinator with three different teams in the Indoor Football League, as he started his coaching career as the special teams coordinator of the River City Rage of the United Indoor Football League in 2007.
Bethany was a member of the football team at William Jewell College, where he majored in accounting.Â
