LEBANON, Ohio — Lebanon High School softball coach Brian Kindell won his 500th career game Monday night in the Lady Warriors’ victory over visiting Sycamore in a Division I district semifinal. Lebanon won 16-0 in 4.5 innings.
"At the end of the day we've had really great players both currently and in the past," Kindell said. "For the last 20 years we've been very, very blessed with really good kids and really good players. So it's a product of all those things. I'm blessed to be a part of it."
Kindell, who is in his 20th season (21st year including 2020), has a 500-85 record. He is the 24th softball coach in Ohio High School Athletic Association historyto earn at least 500 career coaching wins.
Monday's milestone win was also significant because his daughter, sophomore Claire Kindell, is on the team. The softball program has meant so much to Brian Kindell the past two decades.
"It's a huge part of my life," Brian Kindell said. "It's become almost my identity at times. I'm no longer Brian Kindell. Everyone just calls me 'Coach.' And it's been that way for 21 years. It's basically who I am. It's my identity. And I'm blessed to have this opportunity."
Several former players were in attendance at Monday's game to support the longtime coach. The current players doused Kindell with water and celebrated on the field with a team photo.
"He's been coaching way longer than I've been alive," said Lebanon senior catcher Ella Teubner, an Iowa signee. "So I can't even imagine how much dedication and work that he's put into this program. He's got all these former players here. They came just to see him, support him. That's amazing that he can still influence them today. Even after heck 10 years after graduating. It's amazing."
Lebanon (23-4), has earned an eight-game win streak. The Lady Warriors advance to play Lakota East (17-10) in a district final at 3 p.m. Thursday at Princeton.
Lebanon, which shared the Eastern Cincinnati Conference championship with a 17-1 league record this spring, is No. 6 in the Division I state coaches’ poll.
Kindell has established Lebanon as one of the most consistently successful softball programs in Ohio.
"I just think it's absolutely incredible," Lebanon athletic director Keith Pantling said. "Ever since I got there just kind of watching him work. Not rebuilding but reloading. He's got a pulse on the program. He just does it year after year. Just a remarkable coach."
Under Kindell’s leadership, the Lady Warriors have never experienced a losing season, averaging 25 wins per year.
"The biggest thing to me is how quickly he's done it," Pantling said. "You would think he's on the brink of retirement hitting 500. And here he is. Has two daughters in the program - one is still in junior high. Who knows how far he's going to go doing this. But to average 25 wins a year when you're only allowed 27 in the regular season is pretty remarkable. Just couldn't be more happy for him."
The program has captured 10 district championships and made five trips to the state Final Four as regional champions, most recently in 2023. Lebanon also finished as state runners-up in 2012, 2015 and 2017.
Kindell was inducted into the Ohio High School Fastpitch Coaches Association (OHSFCA) Hall of Fame in 2022.
On Monday, Kindell was presented with a softball commemorating his milestone. Yet, he preferred to discuss the student-athletes he's coached over the years.
"I looked out in the second inning and I saw two or three players - seniors - from my very first team I coached," Kindell said. "They came - I don't know how far away but they came here. I felt like it was packed with former players. I'm glad that they want to come back and still feel like they're a part of it because they are and they always will be."
