Linnen comes to the Roughriders after two years as the running backs coach with the Edmonton Elks. Over the last two seasons, Linnen helped develop Kevin Brown into a premier tailback. Brown finished the 2023 season with 1,149 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Prior to joining the professional coaching ranks, Linnen spent four seasons at Simon Fraser University (2018-2021), primarily as their defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He was also a guest coach with the B.C. Lions in 2019 and earlier coached with the Langley Rams of the British Columbia Football Conference in 2016.
As a player, the Surrey, B.C. native spent time with the Lions and Montreal Alouettes and played his college football at Acadia University (2008-2009) and the University of Manitoba (2013-2014), after playing for Langley from 2009 to 2012.