Joe Linney

Year Inducted: 2015

Joe Linney graduated from Wilkesboro High School in 1943. His love of sports emerged in high school and during his senior year he served as captain of both the football and basketball teams. Following high school graduation, Linney joined the United States Marines and after basic training spent two years on the USS Wasp, where he served as a Marine gunner. His unit received the Presidential Citation during the Marshall Island campaign and the Captain's Letter of Commendation.

After discharge from the Marines, Linney enrolled at Appalachian State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in history and physical education. In 1970, Mr. Linney received his master’s degree in physical education from Appalachian State University. In 1950, Coach Linney moved into a coaching position at Mountain View High School. After posting six successful years there, he was selected to head up the basketball program at the newly formed North Wilkes High School. His coaching expertise lead his girls’ team to a streak of 108 consecutive wins. Coach Linney, as the boys’ coach, led his teams to a combined record of 240-46 and to a state championship in 1961. Coach Linney’s teams also finished second in the state twice and third once. His teams once compiled a 49-game winning streak and the Vikings were undefeated on the home court in Hays, North Carolina for a span of seven-and-a-half years. The gymnasium at North Wilkes High School is named in honor of Coach Joe Linney.

In 1967, Coach Linney joined the staff at Wilkes Community College. At Wilkes Community College, Linney brought into existence the basketball, tennis and golf teams. He adhered to an unstated community college code that emphasized the participation of local athletes. He believed strongly in providing athletes from the community with a chance to compete on a collegiate level.

Coach Linney made no attempt to recruit outside the area because it would ruin the purpose of community college athletics. He retired from Wilkes Community College in 1988. Coach Linney’s genuine nature and commitment to Wilkes County youth resulted in each player realizing strengths and talents that were unknown to them previously. He had a way with people to motivate the highest effort and his reinforcing words promoted the self-efficacy in his athletes. His relationship building skills and his art for communication exemplified coaching at its best as he inspired his players to elevate to a premier level of performance.

Coach Linney was a member of Wilkesboro Baptist Church where he served as an usher. His father was a former pastor of Wilkesboro Baptist. Coach Linney married Adelaide “Toni” Wright in 1945. She was his most avid supporter in life, as well as, athletics until her death in May of 1993.