LANE LORD
Head Coach     

     Lane Lord enters his first season as head women's basketball coach at Pittsburg State University.
     Lord, 37, came to Pitt State from Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan., where he directed the Cougars' women's basketball program the past three seasons (2005-07). Prior to his time at BCCC, he served as head girls' basketball coach at Wichita Heights High School for nine years (1996-2004).
     While at Barton County, he compiled a 77-21 (.786) overall record, posting 22 or more victories each year. He compiled a 141-62 (.695) record in nine seasons at Wichita Heights, including an 89-8 (.918) record and a pair of Kansas Class 6A state titles during his final four years at the post.
     “"We're very excited to have Lane Lord as our new women's basketball coach," PSU athletics director Chuck Broyles said. "Lane came to Pittsburg very highly recommended and he's made a strong impact in the short period of time he's been on campus. He's hit the recruiting trail hard and brought in a good number of players. Lane also has been very visible in the community and I think he's helped rekindle a genuine enthusiasm for Gorilla Women's Basketball.
    "He has a proven track record of success in the junior college and high school ranks. Lane's making a smooth transition to the NCAA Division II level. We expect that under his leadership our program will once again contend for MIAA championships and NCAA Tournament appearances."
     This past winter, Lord directed the Cougars to a 27-3 overall record and a share of the Jayhawk Conference West regular season championship. His squad won 24 of its last 25 games and finished the season on a 12-game winning streak. The Cougars, who posted a 15-1 conference record and shared the Jayhawk Conference West crown with Seward County Community College, posted 15 wins against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the NJCAA Top 25 poll.
     Prior to taking over the BCCC program in 2005, the Cougars compiled a 35-59 (.372) record in their three previous seasons. In his initial year at BCCC, he led the team to a 22-12 record, which included an eight-game improvement in the win column from the previous year's campaign. In 2006, his BCCC squad posted a 28-6 record, ranked as high as No. 8 in the NJCAA national poll and finished second in the Jayhawk Conference West standings.
     During his three-year tenure at BCCC, 15 players signed NCAA Division I or Division II scholarships. Seven players from his 2005-06 squad signed Division I scholarships, while three players from his most recent squad signed with Division I programs during the early signing period in November.
     During his tenure at Wichita Heights High School, the Falcons won back-to-back Class 6A state titles in 2002-03 and four straight City League championships (2001-04). In 2003, he was named the Kansas Girls Coach of the Year for all classes by the National Federation of High School Coaches, the Kansas Coaches Association, and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Additionally, Lord twice was named the Class 6A Coach of the Year (2002-03).
    "As a coach, you always strive to challenge yourself, and coming to Pittsburg State University has been a tremendous opportunity to coach in the best women's basketball conference in NCAA Division II," Lord said.  "This also has been a great opportunity for my wife, daughter and I to join the Gorilla family. I'm excited about the challenges that lie ahead.”
     Lord, a native of Waco, Texas, earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and special education from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., in 1993. He earned a master's degree in school leadership from Friends University in Wichita in 2003.
     Lord is married to the former Stacy Shobe from Conway Springs, Kan. The couple have an eight-year-old daughter, Logan.