UWL Girl's Basketball Camps
Head Coach
Lois Heeren
Head Coach
Lois Heeren begins her 13th year as the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head women's basketball coach in 2011-12.
Before taking over as interim head coach 12 years ago, Heeren served as an assistant at UW-L during the 1998-99 season. “UW-L has a strong tradition of academic and athletic excellence and we will strive for excellence with the women’s basketball program.” says Heeren.
She led the Eagles to an at-large bid to the 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament. It marked UW-L's first appearance in the national championships since the 1987-88 season.
The Eagles finished 20-8 in 2010-11, their most victories since 1987-88 (22-7). The team also tied a school record for most Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) wins with a 12-4 campaign in 2010-11. UW-L tied for second in the league, its best finish since 1987-88 (second).
She recorded her 200th career victory in UW-L's 73-69 win at UW-Oshkosh January 19, 2011.
UW-L has had five overall winning campaigns in the last six seasons.
The winningest coach in UW-L women's basketball history (155 wins), Heeren was named the 2005-06 WIAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading UW-L to a 19-8 overall and 9-7 conference mark. The team hosted a 2006 WIAC Tournament Quarterfinal for the first time in school history and appeared in the WIAC semifinals for the first time.
UW-L finished 18-8 overall and 10-6 in the conference in 2009-10.
A native of Greene, Iowa, Heeren served two seasons as an assistant at the United States Air Force Academy before returning to the Midwest to become an assistant at UW-L. She has had two prior collegiate head coaching stints. She coached at St. Mary's University (Minn.) for three seasons (1993-96). Heeren also coached at NCAA II Truman State University, formerly Northeast Missouri State, for three seasons from 1989-1992.
She was able to revive struggling programs at Northeast Missouri and St. Mary’s. In her second year at Northeast Missouri, the Lady Dogs posted their first winning season in ten years, finished fourth in the conference and made their first postseason tournament appearance in four years. In her first season at St. Mary’s, she led the Cardinals to their best overall and conference record in five years.
Other collegiate coaching experience includes a year as an assistant at NCAA I Southwest Texas State University in 1991-92 and as an assistant at UW-River Falls from 1987-89. In addition, she has instructed at several camps and clinics around the country. Heeren has coached one national Academic All-American and has had numerous first team all-conference selections.
Heeren is a 1984 graduate of Truman State University. She received a master's degree in the Administration of Fitness/Wellness Programs from the University of Iowa in 1986. She also teaches in the UW-L Exercise and Sport Science Program.
