Former KS high school teacher, coach sentenced to prison after sex with students

A former Burlington, Kansas, high school wrestling coach and teacher was sentenced Thursday to 36 months in prison for having sexual intercourse with two students in 2012 and 2013 when they were 15, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Friday.

Michael Vander Linden will also have to register as a sex offender for life.

He had pleaded no contest to the three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child in October 2024. The rest of the charges were dismissed, according to the KBI.

The investigation started in June 2022 after a former student reported having a sexual relationship with him in 2012 and 2013 when she was a sophomore and he was a student teacher.

“The investigation led to a second former student who reported she also had sexual intercourse with Vander Linden on multiple occasions in 2013, when she was 15-years-old,” the KBI previously said.

He was arrested in February 2024 on eight counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. At that time, he was 31 and still working at Burlington High School.

At the time, the school’s website showed that Linden taught broadcasting, computer graphics, media tech, video game design, senior English and advanced theater. He also reportedly was the director of the drama club and theater productions and the wrestling and cross country coach, according to the school.

Contributing: Eduardo Castillo with The Eagle