Lynne Collenback, a 36‑year‑old former coach with a decade of experience across Texas and Oklahoma, has been appointed girls basketball coach at Edwardsville High School, taking over from Kaylie Gudka, who led the Tigers to a 14‑15 record and a regional championship game appearance in the 2025‑26 season.
A Coach With a Vision
Collenback says her primary goal is to bring stability to a program that has seen a revolving door of head coaches during her own playing days. She hopes to rebuild a culture that once made Edwardsville one of the state’s most respected basketball powers.
Having coached tennis in Oklahoma and served as an assistant in girls basketball in Texas, she brings a blend of sport‑specific insight and program‑building experience. She will begin the summer by working directly with the current roster at the Batavia Live Event, using the upcoming weeks to lay the groundwork for a season that starts in earnest this winter.
Reviving a Winning Tradition
The Tigers last captured a regional title in 2022, completing a streak of 18 consecutive regional championships that ended just two years ago. Collenback acknowledges the weight of that legacy but sees it as a foundation to rebuild upon rather than a burden to maintain.
Mentors and Support
She will not be alone in the effort. Collenback previously worked under Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame coach Pam Crawford at Clear Springs High School, and she credits the mentorship of veterans like Ryan Collenback, Amy Boscolo and Lori Blade for shaping her approach. The district’s board, which approved her appointment at a June retreat, also expressed confidence in her ability to restore the program’s former glory.
As the summer heat gives way to the first cold snap of the season, Collenback is already planning drills, team‑building activities and community outreach that she hopes will cement a new culture. If she can translate the stability she seeks into on‑court success, Edwardsville may once again be counted among the state’s elite.