NEWARK, NJ–NJIT women's basketball head coach Mike Lane has announced the addition of Payce Lange to his staff as an assistant coach.
Lange joins the NJIT women's basketball staff after a successful 2021-22 season at D'Youville in Buffalo, New York, guiding the program as interim head coach to its first-ever National Title in the 2022 USCAA Division I Championship.
"I am thrilled to add Payce to our program," said Lane, who will begin his fifth season at the helm of the Highlanders this fall. "To add a coach who so early in her career has already garnered head coaching experience is phenomenal. She was thrust into that role at D'Youville University in their first year of Division II competition and led the program to a winning record."
Lange led D'Youville in its first year of Division II competition to an impressive 15-12 record and coached three All-American student-athletes – Sara Pfeiffer, Anna Jankovic and Stella Mollica.
"I am extremely grateful and thrilled to join such a great program, coaching staff and institution," said Lange. "NJIT is a University that provides a winning mentality both on and off the court. I am excited to join the NJIT Community, Coach Lane and the rest of the staff in empowering and developing our student-athletes. I am beyond happy to be a part of the Highlander family."
Lange started her collegiate coaching career in 2020-21, as a graduate assistant at D'Youville, assisting in practice planning and supporting the head coach in all aspects of game management and off-court activities.
"Payce also has Jersey bona fides, as a highly decorated player and three-year captain at Kean University after playing at Voorhees High School," added Lane.
A four-year member of the Kean University women's basketball team (2017-20), Lange left her mark in her final season, earning D3Hoops All-American, NJAC Player of the Year and D3Hoops Atlantic Region Player of the Year accolades.
Lange capped off her senior campaign finishing 33rd in all of Division III in points per game (19.2) and in the top 100 in steals per game (2.58). In addition, she combined for 6.7 rebounds per game and concluded her collegiate career with 1,221 career points, becoming the 20th player in the history at Kean to surpass the 1,000 point mark.
A 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District First-Team honoree, Lange graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and a minor in business marketing from Kean in May 2020 and Masters in business administration from D'Youville in May 2022.
"Her work ethic, leadership experience and passion to coach will impact our staff and roster alike," Lane concluded. "We are so happy she's a Highlander!"
