The 2011 Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year, Mike Lane begins his 5th season at Dominican University in 2011-12.
Since his arrival prior to the 2007-08 season, Lane has guided the Stars to their first ever NAC South Division pennant, a NAC conference tournament appearance and has set or tied the NCAA-era (since 2000-01) record for most wins in a season three times, most recently last season when the Stars were 20-7. Lane, with an overall record of 50-52, is the winningest coach in Dominican’s NCAA history and led the 2010-11 Stars to their most successful season since the 1993-94 season of the then NAIA Rosary College Rebels.
Last year under Lane, the Stars reached the NAC semifinals after notching the program’s first postseason win since 93-94. The Stars shattered the DU record book, lighting up for 216 three-point field goals at a pace of eight per game, which was seventh-best in all of NCAA Division III. Dominican also ranked sixth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage, shooting just over 37 percent from behind the arc. Powered by that 3-point attack, the Stars boasted the nation’s 17th best offense. Other program records set last season include scoring average (74.1 pts per game), field goal percentage (43.7%), and assists (14.8 per game). The 2010-2011 South Division championship squad saw five of its members receive conference recognition, more than any other team received. The team was also recognized with a D3Hoops all-region player, the first all-region player since the Stars joined the NCAA Division III ranks in 2000.
Since 2007-08 Lane has coached eight Stars to 11 conference honors, including one First Team, three Second Team, five Honorable Mention, and two All-Freshman selections:
First Team: Becky Christofferson 2010-11
Second Team: Sarah Budz 2010-11, Lindsey Trent 2008-09, Jessica Salinas 2007-08
Honorable Mention: Kayla Blom 2010-11, Sarah Budz 2009-10, Lisa Julkowski 2009-10, Jessica Salinas 2008-09, Lindsey Trent 2007-08
All-Freshman: Katie Budz, 2010-11, Maggie Kaminska 2010-11
Lane came to Dominican after serving as an assistant coach to Aaron Roussell at the University of Chicago. During his tenure at Chicago, Lane helped the Maroons to the winningest two-year campaign since the 1989-1990 and 1990-1991 seasons as the program posted a 35-15 mark and snared the top spot of the USA Today/ESPN poll in Week 8 of the 2006-2007 season. With the Maroons, Lane assisted in the national recruitment of high school prospects, post player development, game planning and scouting. In 2006-2007, Lane helped the Maroons place nationally in rebounding margin (4th) and field goal percentage defense (23rd).
Prior to Chicago, Lane helped head coach Tony Siriscevich lead the Francis W. Parker High School boys' basketball team to consecutive league titles and the program's first Regional Championship.
Dominican also utilizes Lane's professional experience to fulfill his additional responsibilities with the university as the athletics facilities manager. Lane's diverse background includes time spent with Poland Spring Water, a four-year stint as the managing editor of Team Marketing Report and as the site manager of Hoops the Gym.
Lane is a 1993 graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
A native of South Windsor, Connecticut, Lane resides in Elmhurst with wife, Jill, son, Ollie and daughter, Sheahan.
