Lintker manages to help team for 4 years

As a veteran basketball coach, Southeast Missouri State University's Gary Garner has dealt with plenty of student managers, ranging from the very bad to the very good and just about everything in between.

Garner has no doubt where to rate Richard Lintker, who is closing out a four-year run as the Indians' student manager as Southeast plays its final two regular-season games this week.

"People don't know all the work a manager does, and all the time he puts in," Garner said. "Richard is the best manager I've ever had, and I've had quite a few. He's a hard worker, a self-starter and just a tremendous young man. He's been a vital part of our program the past four years."

Lintker acknowledges that he puts in plenty of time with little fanfare, but he wouldn't trade the past four years for anything.

"It's been wonderful, a great experience," he said. "The camaraderie, being a part of the team, that's been awesome. The players made me feel wanted from day one."

Said junior point guard Mike Nelke, "Richard is just like a member of the team. He's a great guy, everybody likes him, and he does everything we need."

Among Lintker's primary duties are laundering the team's game uniforms and practice gear -- both at home and on the road -- helping out at practice, setting up the locker room on game days -- including the visiting locker room for home contests -- and assisting Southeast's coaches in a variety of ways.

In addition, Lintker has worked at Southeast's numerous summer camps and even helps entertain recruits when they visit the campus.

"I basically show up about 1 1/2 hours before every practice and stay about 1 1/2 hours after every practice. On game days, I'm usually here about four or five hours ahead of time," Lintker said. "I do a lot of laundry and basically make sure the players and coaches have everything they need."

Lintker, a native of basketball-crazy Okawville, Ill., actually had his manager's path paved in eighth grade when the car he was riding in was hit by a drunk driver, shattering his femur and forcing him to miss the entire season of play.

"Not playing in eighth grade, I felt like I would be behind, but I loved basketball," Lintker said. "Our coach asked me to be the manager and I did it all through high school. I loved it."

After graduating from Okawville High School in 1999, Lintker enrolled at Southeast. He contacted Garner and was invited to be the Indians' manager.

"It's been a great four years," said Lintker, a sport management major who said he just might pursue a career in coaching because of his basketball experiences.

"I think Richard would make a very good coach," Garner said. "Whatever he chooses to do, I have no doubt he'll be a success. That's just the kind of person he is."