Lane Lord, a five-time conference and three-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year who spent the previous 11 years as the head coach at Pittsburg State, was announced as the new head coach of the UTRGV women’s basketball team on May 21, 2018.
2025-26: Year 8 was the best yet for Lord and the women's basketball program. UTRGV captured the first 20-win season in program history with a 21-14 record and earned the first postseason road victory with a return to the WNIT, the first postseason appearance since 2019. The Vaqueros set or tied 14 single-season program records: overall wins (21), conference wins (16), road wins (11), road winning percentage (68.7%, 11-5), consecutive road wins (8), consecutive conference wins (7), tied longest winning streak (7), points scored (2,315), field goals made (817), free throws made (476), free throw percentage (74.1%, 476-642), rebounds (1,471), rebounds per game (42.0), and assists (519).
Lord's team was the only one in the conference to place two student-athletes on the All-Conference First Team in
Charlotte O'Keefe and
Jalayah Ingram. O'Keefe also made the All-Defensive Team and Ingram was named the Newcomer of the Year.
O'Keefe will go down as one of the best players in program history. The three-time SLC Player of the Week in 2025-26 leaves as the program record holder in career rebounds (1,207), career blocks (146), single-season rebounds (400), and single-game rebounds (24) while ranking in the top 10 in career points (1,106), single-season blocks (44, twice), career field goals made (425), career field goal percentage (.437), career assists (240), career free throws made (194), and career games played (118). She is fourth in SLC history in career double-doubles (39) and fifth in career rebounds with two of the top 10 rebounding seasons in conference history. This season, she led the conference in all rebounding categories and was ranked in the top 15 nationally in all four – second in rebounds per game (13.8), third in defensive RPG (9.7), sixth in total rebounds (399) and 13
th in offensive RPG (4.0). She was also first in double-doubles (17) and minutes per game (35.93), ranking 14
th and 20
th in the nation, respectively. O’Keefe was the only SLC women’s basketball player to average a double-double this season – for the second consecutive year – as she produced 12.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game to go with shooting 48% from the field, 83 assists, 44 blocks and 37 steals.
Ingram was a key junior college addition who made a massive impact in her first season at UTRGV. She led the team and was second in the SLC scoring 16.9 PPG. She was third in the conference with a team-best 137 assists (4.2 APG) and with 7.1 RPG. Ingram ranked fourth in the nation with 241 free throw attempts and fifth with 193 made free throws, which is a new single-season program record. Ingram scored 558 points in 2025-26, which is third-most in a season in program history, and she dished out the third-most assists in a season of any UTRGV women’s basketball player. She shot 80% from the free throw line and 40% from the field while snatching 49 steals and recording 32 blocks in a stellar debut year with the Vaqueros.
2024-25: In his seventh season, Lord coached the Vaqueros to their winningest season since 2018-19 as they went 16-16. UTRGV won the most conference games in a season in program history, going 11-9 in its first Southland Conference season. The Vaqueros had their best road record (6-9) and longest winning streak (5) since 2018-19. They earned their first win over a Power 4 conference opponent since 2003 with a 70-68 win at Houston.
Lord guided
Charlotte O’Keefe to Southland All-Conference Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors. She was the only SLC player to average a double-double in the 2024-25 season and finished the regular season nationally ranked in total rebounds (2
nd), rebounds per game (3
rd), offensive RPG (6
th) and defensive RPG (8
th). O’Keefe set program records for rebounds in a single season (400), rebounds in a game (24), and career rebounds (400) in her junior season while recording five of the top-10 single-game rebounding performances in program history.
Lord also coached
Kade Hackerott to Southland All-Conference Second Team honors. Hackerott made 119 free throws in the 2024-25 season, the fifth-most in a season in program history as she led the team in minutes played (32.7 MPG) and scoring (13.1 PPG).
2023-24: In his sixth season with the program, guided
Jayda Holiman to All-WAC Freshman Team honors after missing the first 10 games of the season averaging 9.1 points per game and finishing third on the team in scoring.
Lord saw the Vaqueros finish second in the WAC in attendance with 17,129 and second in average home attendance with 1,224 fans per game. The Vaqueros saw the largest crowd to watch a women’s basketball game in the Rio Grande Valley as a program-record 6,591 fans filed into Bert Ogden Arena to see them play No. 5 Texas.
2022-23: In his fifth season with the program, Lord won more than 10 games for the fourth time in his tenure. Led the team to six wins in the first 10 games of the season with wins over McNeese, Northern Colorado, Corpus Christi, Houston Christian, and Boise State and then closed out the season by winning three of the final four games, including wins against Tarleton State, Sam Houston, and Utah Valley.
Lord saw Iyana Dorsey be named to the All-WAC Second Team as she led the WAC last season with three games of 30 or more points scored and set a program record for most free throws made in a single season with 147.
Lord also saw the Vaqueros set a program record with a .730 free throw percentage while finishing the season with 217 made three-pointers, which ranks tied for fourth in program history.
2021-22: In his fourth season with the Vaqueros, Lord saw the program reach double-figure wins for the third time in four seasons. Two of those wins came against the top two teams in the WAC on the road after knocking off Grand Canyon and stopping Stephen F. Austin’s 32-game conference win streak and 38-game home win streak.
Following the win at SFA, Lord got the Vaqueros rolling into the WAC Tournament where they picked up wins over Seattle U and Abilene Christian. Lord saw Taylor Muff be named to the All-WAC Second Team and the All-Newcomer Team.
Under Coach Lord, the Vaqueros set a program record for most three-pointers made in a season with 245, which ranked fourth in the WAC. The Vaqueros also put together a stretch of 36 three-pointers in the wins over SFA, Seattle U, and Abilene Christian, which marked the most three-pointers made over a three-game span since Dec. 12-19, 2010.
2020-21: In his third season at the helm, Lord guided the Vaqueros through a season like no other while maintain their excellence in the classroom with a team GPA of 3.38 and 13 AD Honor Roll Recipients.
Lord saw
Amara Graham become the eighth player in program history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark as she finished the season as the WAC’s leading scorer with 16.5 points per game.
Lord also saw Graham and
Sara Bershers earn All-WAC honors as Graham was named to the All-WAC Second Team and Bershers earned All-WAC Honorable Mention. The Vaqueros finished the season second in the WAC with 6.9 three-pointers made per game.
2019-20: Lord guided the Vaqueros to another double-digit win season in his second year with the program. The 2019-20 season marked the fourth straight season with 10 wins at home, including a win over New Mexico State.
Lord saw
Amara Graham and
Trelynn Tyler earn All-WAC honors as Graham was named to the All-WAC Second Team while Tyler was named to the WAC All-Newcomer Team.
Under Lord, the Vaqueros set a program record for points scored in a WAC game in an 87-68 win over CBU while finishing the season second in the WAC in steals (8.7) and third in scoring (67.4), assists (14.1), and three-pointers made (7.0).
2018-19: In his first season at the helm, Lord guided UTRGV to an 18-15 record en route to a birth into the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) Tournament. He guided UTRGV to a program record 10 WAC victories as it clinched the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament, where UTRGV made the championship game for the third time since joining the WAC.
Lord coached
Madison Northcutt to a trio of postseason awards as she was named to the All-WAC Second Team, All-Defensive Team, and the All-Newcomer Team. Under Lord, UTRGV finished with the WAC’s best scoring defense by allowing 61.2 points per game.
Lord 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 467-199 (.701) head coaching record in 24 seasons, including 14 seasons at the collegiate level, during which time he is 326-137 (.704).
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 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).
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 one daughter, Logan.
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2018-19 |
UTRGV |
18 |
15 |
.545 |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
Women's Basketball Invitational |
| 2019-20 |
UTRGV |
13 |
17 |
.433 |
8 |
8 |
.500 |
|
| 2020-21 |
UTRGV |
6 |
14 |
.300 |
2 |
8 |
.200 |
|
| 2021-22 |
UTRGV |
14 |
19 |
.424 |
8 |
10 |
.444 |
|
| 2022-23 |
UTRGV |
12 |
18 |
.400 |
6 |
12 |
.333 |
|
| 2023-24 |
UTRGV |
6 |
23 |
.206 |
5 |
15 |
.250 |
|
| 2024-25 |
UTRGV |
16 |
16 |
.500 |
11 |
9 |
.550 |
|
| 2025-26 |
UTRGV |
21 |
14 |
.600 |
16 |
6 |
.727 |
Women's National Invitational Tournament |
| Total |
UTRGV |
106 |
136 |
.438 |
65 |
74 |
.468 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
Collegiate Head Coach |
414 |
258 |
.616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
