Lane Lawson is entering his sixth season with the Lindenwood coaching staff in 2025, and his second as running backs coach.
In his first year leading the running backs, the Lions averaged a Big South-OVC Association best 173.7 rushing yards per game. Steve Hall was named the Association's Offensive Freshman of the Year and a first team all-conference selection.
In 2023, Lawson guided a defensive unit who boasted two all-conference selections in Kobe McClendon and Ethan Stuhlsatz. McClendon finished the year with 6.5 sacks, fourth most in a single season in program history. During the year, Lindenwood garnered a pair of Defensive Player of the Week honors. Lawson helped the defense to its first shutout since 2015 in a 23-0 win over Tennessee Tech during week six of the season. Academically, Lindenwood compiled five CSC Academic All-District selections.
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. For the second time in as many season in the GLVC, Drew Seers was named Defensive Player of the Year. The Lions accumulated 21 all-conference selections, including nine of the defensive unit. Seers went on to collect two first-team All-American honors and was voted as a finalist for the Cliff Harris award, which recognizes the top defensive player in the country. Seers was named the D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Year in his final season with the Lions. 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.
The Lions earned a win over Quincy with the help of three interceptions from Kai Ross, which tied a program record. The Lions collected 18 interceptions to rank fifth in school history. Ross (6) and Seers (5) reached the top-six in the program record book for interceptions in a season. Jordan Perry finished the season with 11 pass breakups to rank second in school history. 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. Drew Seers was featured on the College Football American Yearbook Division II Preseason Starting Lineup. 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.
