Darien Lantz named women's basketball coach at UPG

Barely done with her playing days, Darien Lantz is ready to take on her first head-coaching job at the collegiate level.

Lantz was announced Friday as the new women’s basketball coach at Pitt-Greensburg.

She replaces Kelsey Oddis, who resigned and accepted another on-campus position.

Lantz was an assistant at Thiel College for the past four years after graduating from Pitt-Bradford, where she started all 27 games as a senior guard, averaging seven points and four assists. She played three seasons at UPB.

“We are excited to work alongside her and I look forward to watching her achieve success on and off the court,” UPG athletic director Jeromy Yetter said in a news release.

UPG finished 20-6 last season, averaging 69.7 points per game. The team won an AMCC title under Oddis, a Burrell graduate.

With her hiring, Lantz reconnects with Pitt.

“It is very surreal to be back in the Pitt system. The small Pitt-Greensburg community provides more resources and experiences on a larger scale,” Lantz said. “I am thrilled to be a part of such an electrifying atmosphere.”

Lantz also coached high school basketball at Towanda, her alma mater where she was a 1,000-point scorer. Towanda plays in PIAA District 4.

She began her college career at SUNY Cortland.

“I am excited to provide an environment of education that extends well beyond the basketball court,” Lantz said, “and continue capitalizing on the culture of winning for Pitt-Greensburg women’s basketball.”