LBCC Men’s Basketball – An Interview with Head Coach Todd Zimmermann
Todd Zimmermann is the head coach of the Linn-Benton men’s basketball team. In 2022, his first year as the Beaks’ head coach, he took the team to the NWAC playoffs with a 15-15 regular season record.
Last year, your first as LBCC’s head coach, the team made the playoffs for the first time since 2017. How are you hoping to build on that success this season?
Last year was very exciting. The young men bought in and the results were great. This year we hope to begin to establish ourselves as real contenders for the NWAC South Championship! We are striving to be a playoff contender each and every season!
Let’s talk about this year’s roster: how many returning sophomores do you have this season? What do they mean to the team?
We have seven returning sophomores, and we have ten players who were all here at LB a year ago that are returning this year. Sophomores are a tremendous asset. They have become stronger, more vocal, and bring culture to the team that the new additions can learn from.
The team added some transfers to the roster this year. Who did the team add from the transfer portal, and what are your thoughts on building the roster through those means?
We have three players who were all on a different JuCo [junior college] roster a year ago. We believe these young men will bring experience, strength, and skill sets that add to our overall culture.
And how about this year’s freshman class? Who did the team add from high school this season, and what are you excited about for the group?
We are extremely excited about our class of ‘23 additions. We believe that they’re all very skilled individuals who can come in and make an immediate impact. We also feel that they will become contributors to the LB academic/student campus culture as well.
How has this year’s team evolved from last year’s?
We have more depth than a year ago. We have more flexibility because of that depth.
LBCC started the year with a 93-65 win over a Corban team in a training match. What did you see from your team in that game?
As a coaching staff what we have wanted to see, and fortunately have been seeing so far in the preseason, has been growth from one game to the next. This team has grown significantly from our first jamboree in October through our last jamboree that took place this past Sunday [November 5]. As a coaching staff that is exactly what you want to see.
What are you most looking forward to with the LBCC basketball season starting back up?
Every season is a gift, and like all good gifts, unwrapping them is as much fun as actually using what you find inside. The growth, the experience, the opportunity to bond and grow as a team are the things that the coaching staff is most looking forward to.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
These student athletes are really working their tails off. We would love to have a packed house everytime we play at home. They’re an exciting team. They will be fun, so fun to watch. I personally would like to invite each and every one of your readers to come check out as many games as you possibly can!
Zimmermann and the Roadrunners start their 2023 season on November 17 against Linfield JV at 7:30 p.m. The game will be held at the Activities Center on the Linn-Benton Albany campus.
At a glance:
Todd Zimmermann
Occupation: Head coach of the Linn-Benton men’s basketball team
Years as LBCC head coach: 2
Linn-Benton men’s basketball team website:
