Coach Lien Finally to State

NSO NEWS RELEASE

Oh how the tears have flowed for Jim Lien. And by Jim Lien. The 77-year-old coaching lifer realized a dream this week when the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley girls basketball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time.

Jim and Pat Richter, co-head coaches of the Wolves, and assistant coach Katie Benjamin led the team to a 24-6 record after capturing the Class A Section 5 championship last week with an emotional win over Braham at St. Cloud State.

“When we heard that buzzer ring, it brought tears to his eyes,” Richter said of Lien. “It brought tears to a lot of eyes.”

Jim has been coaching for 46 years, starting in the 1970s. This is his 37th season with the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley girls; he also coached boys basketball for several years back when the school was simply Akeley and the team was the Akeley Anglers.

After the Wolves lost to Mountain Iron-Buhl in Thursday’s state quarterfinals at Maturi Pavilion, Jim remembered several previous opportunities to get to state that fell one step short.

“I think I’ve been in section title games six other times, with the boys three times and with the girls three times,” he said.

His coaching record is almost impossible to believe. His teams have won 734 times and fell short 404 times. But getting to state, finally, unbelievably, after all these years and more than 1,100 games, well, that’s pure magic.

“It’s hard to put into words,” he said. “It’s a great experience for the kids, for myself, for the community, for everybody. It’s really special. It’s a real dream come true.”

Lien uses a cane to get around, and he’ll ride an elevator instead of climbing stairs if that’s an option.

“He just brings such a great spirit to the game, and the kids love him because of it,” Richter said. “And obviously, his wealth of knowledge is something special.”

Mountain Iron-Buhl coach Jeff Buffetta has known Lien for years, and he said watching online as the Wolves won the section title was emotional for him.

“Nobody’s more deserving,” Buffetta said.

Why keep coaching? The answer is simple.

“These kids right here,” Jim said, motioning toward juniors Aubrey Morrison and Ava Welk, who joined the coach in the postgame media session.

“I remember when I was really little and he told me I was going to be his next point guard,” Aubrey said. “I was in like fourth grade. He’s awesome. He’s a really good coach. He means a lot to us.”

Ava added, “We’ve had him forever and he’s just been a great coach. And he’s been supportive ever since we were really little, telling us how we’re going to do when we’re older.”

There are no seniors on this year’s team, which means there will be high hopes for next season. Will Coach Lien be back?

“As long as I’m healthy,” he said with a smile.