"I have enjoyed every aspect of this experience and although I am excited to begin at Binghamton, it saddens me to leave Caldwell College," Cimino said. "I thank Mark Corino and Dr. Nancy Blattner for the opportunity to grow and learn in this position. It has been my dream to become a Division I head coach, and my experiences at Caldwell College have helped me develop as a coach and provide me with an opportunity to fulfill that dream."

Cimino, who came to Caldwell in 2006 following a season at Adelphi University as an assistant coach, quickly turned the women's basketball team around. In her second season, the Cougars went 18-12 and advanced to the finals of the ECAC Tournament. An upset of ninth-ranked Stonehill and a win over Bentley early in the 2009-10 campaign led to the program's first mention in the national rankings as an NCAA Division II institution. The 2010-11 squad set a school record for winning percentage by finishing 21-6 (.778) and capturing a share of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division title. That year the Cougars were included in the regional rankings all season.

In 2012-13, Cimino motivated her team to a program-best, 15-game winning streak that put the Cougars into the finals of the CACC Tournament for the first time since 2003. Along the way she earned her 100^th career victory, upset nationally-ranked Holy Family and won the program's first CACC North Division title outright with a 15-4 conference record. Last year the Cougars again made the CACC Tournament finals and also participated in the ECAC Tournament in an 18-12 campaign. Senior forward Jeanette Anderson (Lynn, MA/Lynn English) was named the CACC and East Region Player of the Year and became Caldwell's first All-American since joining the NCAA Division II in 2002.

In addition to her coaching duties, Cimino served as Caldwell's Senior Woman Administrator and coordinator of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helping the SAAC raise thousands of dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in support of the NCAA Division II's fundraising campaign. In 2012, she organized a celebration of the 40^th anniversary of Title IX by inviting a panel of eight influential women in sports that was heard by hundreds of local high school and college student-athletes in attendance at the George R. Newman Center. Cimino's potential as an administrator was recognized in 2011, when she was selected to participate in the Women and Minorities Mentor Program conducted by the NCAA and Division II Athletic Directors Association.

"We are grateful for Linda's contributions to our department during her time of service here," said Mark A. Corino, Executive Director of Athletics. "She was a tremendous addition, not only for the athletic department but for our entire institution as far as representing Caldwell College in accordance with our Dominican mission. Over the years Linda developed into an outstanding coach who turned our program into a championship contender. As an administrator she exhibited a work ethic, loyalty and a caring approach to all of our student-athletes. We are very happy for her to realize her dream of becoming a Division I head coach, and we wish her only the best."

Caldwell College has 12 intercollegiate athletics programs that compete at the NCAA Division II level in the CACC. A search for Cimino's replacement will be conducted immediately.