Coach Lord, ‘winningest’ in program history

Coach Lane Lord observes his team play during the St. Mary’s University game Nov. 3 in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.
Draya Rios/THE RIDER

To open his eighth season as the head coach of the UTRGV Women’s Basketball program, Lane Lord made history by becoming the coach with the most wins in its history.

Lord accomplished this feat on Nov. 3 with a 64-46 win against St. Mary’s University, winning his 86th game and cementing his name at the top of the list. As of press time, he now stands at 87 wins.

During the first game of the year, Lord had not realized that he had broken the record until he saw the tribute on the scoreboard after the win, thanking the administration for sticking with him for eight seasons.

“We’ve had some good years,” Lord said. “We’ve had some great wins. We’ve had some bad years through COVID, and [I have] just been very fortunate to be here as long as I have.”

Hired by UTRGV in 2018 after coaching for 11 years at Division II Pittsburg State University in Kansas, Lord has led the Vaqueros to seven tournament appearances, including last year in UTRGV’s first year in the Southland Conference.

Coach Lane Lord celebrates postgame with the UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team after its win against St. Mary’s University 64-46 Nov. 3 in the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.
PHOTO COURTESY UTRGV ATHLETICS

Since Nov. 3, Lord has heard from many people, including old coaches and friends from the Midwest. He also heard from Abilene Christian University head coach Julie Goodenough, ahead of UTRGV’s game against her team.

“All the old coaching buddies from high school, junior college, Division II, the [Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association] league that we used to play in [reached out],” he said. “[Goodenough] sent out a nice text, even though we were playing her this week. So, it’s just been fun to have that coaching fraternity reach out and say, ‘Keep it going.’”

Associate head coach Kevin Hackerott has worked alongside Lord since his hire in 2020 and has seen the program grow in that span.

Speaking with The Rider, Hackerott said Lord’s generally positive attitude influences everybody around him, adding his energy is “contagious.”

“Lane is very positive, very upbeat, half-glass-full kind of guy,” he said. “That’s probably why we like each other so much. His belief in people is what attracts those to like him. And we’re just glad he’s our coach and excited to get to work with him.”

Vaqueros senior forward Charlotte O’Keefe, who has become one of the best rebounders in the country during her time at UTRGV, told The Rider the team is “so happy” for Lord’s achievement.

“No one’s more deserving than him,” O’Keefe said. “He’s put a lot into not only our program, but this whole university and community. He’s the reason I’ve been down here four years, so I’m forever indebted to him.”

Hackerott said as much, adding the team’s job is now “to stack as many numbers on that as we can and make that the highest number we can get for him.”