EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that
Lane Lord, a five-time conference and three-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year who spent the last 11 years as the head coach at Pittsburg State, is the new head coach of the UTRGV women's basketball team.
Lord will be introduced to the media on May 30 at 2 p.m. at the UTRGV Visitor's Center.
"We are beyond excited to welcome Lane and his wife Stacy to the Rio Grande Valley," UTRGV Director of Athletics
Chris King said. "We set out and hired one of the most successful head coaches in college basketball over the past decade to lead our women's basketball program. His competitive success, vision, and values make him an exact fit for the next chapter of our women's basketball program and our goals of winning WAC championships and participating in NCAA March Madness."
Lord has compiled a 231-102 (.694) record during his tenure at Pitt State, including five trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in the last seven years and the program's first two Elite Eight appearances. During that time, Pitt State averaged 24.4 wins per season while going 171-50 (.774). Pitt State won 20 or more games seven times in Lord's 11 years.
For his career, Lord has a 449-184 (.709) head coaching record in 23 seasons, including 14 seasons at the collegiate level, during which time he is 308-122 (.716).
Lord earned Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017), NCAA Regional Coach of the Year recognition in 2009, 2012 and 2017), and Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Kansas Four Year Women's College Coach of the Year honors in 2018.
Highlights of Lord's tenure include the 2016-17 season, when Pitt State went 16-3 mark in MIAA play for the program's first MIAA regular season title since 1996. During that season, Pitt State climbed as high as No. 5 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25 poll.
In 2011-12, Lord led Pitt State to the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1998 and an Elite Eight appearance after going a program record 27-6 (.818).
"My family and I are excited to be a part of the UTRGV nation," Lord said. "The growth of UTRGV has been monstrous and I am ready to be a part of it.
Chris King and his staff have taken this department to the next level and I am ready to take the women's basketball program to the next level as well. We couldn't be more excited for this opportunity and we can't wait to get started."
Lord came to Pitt State from Barton Community College (BCC), where he led the women's basketball program to a 77-20 (.794) record from 2004-07.
In 2006-07, Lord guided his team to a 27-3 overall record and a share of the Jayhawk Conference West Championship. His squad won 24 of its final 25 games and finished the season on a 12-game winning streak. BCC compiled 15 wins against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the NJCAA Top 25 poll.
In 2005-06, BCC was ranked as high as No. 8 in the NJCAA national poll.
Lord began his coaching career as the head girls' basketball coach at Wichita Heights High School from 1995-to-2004, during which time he compiled a 141-62 (.695) record.
Lord amassed an 89-8 (.918) record and a claimed a pair of Kansas Class 6A state titles during his final four years at the post, earning Kansas Class 6A Coach of Year in both 2002 and 2003. In 2003, he was named the Kansas Girls Coach of the Year for all classes by the National Federation of High School Coaches.
Originally from Waco, Lord earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and special education from Tabor College in 1993. He earned a master's degree in school leadership from Friends University in 2003.
Lord is married to the former Stacy Shobe. The couple have a 19-year old daughter, Logan.
"Searching for a head coach can be a long and difficult process, but we were able to accomplish our goals in four weeks," King said. "That would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our women's basketball sport administrator,
Vince Volpe, and our senior woman administrator,
Farrah Manthei. I want to personally thank both of them for their hard work and leadership during this endeavor."
Year-by-Year Head Coaching Results
|
|
Overall |
|
|
Conference |
|
Postseason |
| Year |
School |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
|
| 1995-96 |
Wichita Heights High School |
10 |
11 |
.476 |
|
|
|
|
| 1996-97 |
Wichita Heights High School |
9 |
11 |
.450 |
|
|
|
|
| 1997-98 |
Wichita Heights High School |
10 |
12 |
.455 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A Sub-State Runner-Up |
| 1998-99 |
Wichita Heights High School |
9 |
12 |
.429 |
|
|
|
|
| 1999-00 |
Wichita Heights High School |
14 |
8 |
.636 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A Sub-State Runner-Up |
| 2000-01 |
Wichita Heights High School |
24 |
1 |
.960 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A State Tournament Third Place |
| 2001-02 |
Wichita Heights High School |
24 |
1 |
.960 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A State Tournament Champions |
| 2002-03 |
Wichita Heights High School |
21 |
4 |
.840 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A State Tournament Champions |
| 2003-04 |
Wichita Heights High School |
20 |
2 |
.909 |
|
|
|
KSHSAA 6A State Tournament Runner Up |
| Total |
Wichita Heights High School |
141 |
62 |
.695 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2004-05 |
Barton Community College |
22 |
12 |
.647 |
|
|
|
Region VI Runner Up |
| 2005-06 |
Barton Community College |
28 |
5 |
.848 |
|
|
|
Region VI Runner Up |
| 2006-07 |
Barton Community College |
27 |
3 |
.900 |
|
|
|
|
| Total |
Barton Community College |
77 |
20 |
.794 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2007-08 |
Pittsburg State |
10 |
17 |
.370 |
4 |
14 |
.222 |
|
| 2008-09 |
Pittsburg State |
20 |
9 |
.690 |
14 |
6 |
.700 |
|
| 2009-10 |
Pittsburg State |
14 |
14 |
.500 |
12 |
8 |
.600 |
|
| 2010-11 |
Pittsburg State |
16 |
12 |
.571 |
13 |
9 |
.591 |
|
| 2011-12 |
Pittsburg State |
27 |
6 |
.818 |
17 |
3 |
.850 |
NCAA Division II Elite Eight |
| 2012-13 |
Pittsburg State |
17 |
10 |
.630 |
11 |
7 |
.611 |
|
| 2013-14 |
Pittsburg State |
23 |
8 |
.742 |
16 |
3 |
.842 |
NCAA Central Regional Tournament |
| 2014-15 |
Pittsburg State |
27 |
7 |
.794 |
15 |
4 |
.789 |
NCAA Central Regional Tournament |
| 2015-16 |
Pittsburg State |
29 |
6 |
.829 |
18 |
4 |
.818 |
NCAA Division II Elite Eight |
| 2016-17 |
Pittsburg State |
25 |
6 |
.806 |
16 |
3 |
.842 |
MIAA Conference Champions
NCAA Central Regional Tournament |
| 2017-18 |
Pittsburg State |
23 |
7 |
.767 |
15 |
4 |
.789 |
|
| Total |
Pittsburg State |
231 |
102 |
.694 |
151 |
65 |
.699 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
Collegiate Head Coach |
308 |
122 |
.716 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
Head Coach |
449 |
184 |
.709 |
|
|
|
|
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LANE LORD
Jim Littell, Oklahoma State Women's Basketball Head Coach
Lane Lord has been a proven winner at every level. His team's will be well prepared and will play with tremendous effort. Lane's ability to recruit and work ethic will equate to instant success at UTRGV.
Brandon Schneider,Kansas Women's Basketball Head Coach
Lane has been highly successful at every stop in his career. He does a terrific job of teaching the game, while also motivating and relating to his players. He's a perfect fit to build upon the strong foundation coach Larry Tidwell established.
Jory Collins, Kansas Women's Basketball Assistant Coach
Lane Lord has regularly gotten the most out of his players. They buy into his system and seem to really enjoy playing for him. His teams are championship caliber year in and year out. They are always one of the toughest teams to guard. His players and fans will enjoy the brand of basketball Coach Lord brings to UTRGV.
Cindy Stein, Southern Illinois Women's Basketball Head Coach
Lane Lord is a great hire for UTRGV. He coaches with tremendous passion and expertise. He is a proven winner and will get the job done with positive energy, leadership and integrity. His team has always played with great effort, suffocating defense and a strong basketball IQ. Lane will be an active member in the community and will be a great asset for the athletic department and University. This is a guy that knows how to do things right and people will enjoy working with him and his very energetic but down to earth personality.
Dave Slifer, Central Missouri Women's Basketball Head Coach
Lane has brought a huge amount of energy to the Pitt State women's basketball program, which has reflected in many NCAA appearances and two Elite Eight appearances. Lane has taken dribble-drive motion offense to a whole new level. His teams are extremely well prepared and very hard to guard. Players, fans, and coworkers will enjoy the relationships Coach Lord develops. We certainly are going to miss his leadership in our league and definitely some of the competitive battles we have had over the years. Our league lost a star coach today.
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