NJIT Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan announced Monday, May 21, 2018 the hiring of Mike Lane as the 12th head women’s basketball coach in program history.
“I am very excited to announce Mike Lane as our new women's basketball coach,” Kaplan added. “Mike was a person of interest to us from the very beginning. His coaching background at academically strong universities, with winning women’s basketball programs, immediately put him on our short list. I am looking forward to working with Mike and his staff on getting our women's basketball program turned around, and making a run at an ASUN Conference title.”
Lane comes to NJIT after spending six seasons at Bucknell University as the top assistant coach, where he helped guide the Bison to a program-best 27-6 mark, Patriot League title and conference championship while earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2017.
“I am honored to be named the head coach of women’s basketball at NJIT,” Lane commented. “I would like to thank President Bloom, Lenny Kaplan, Peg Hefferan and the entire athletic department for entrusting me with leading this program. This is an exciting time to be a Highlander especially with the Wellness and Events Center as our new home. Our program will represent the institution, Newark and New Jersey with pride.”
In his fourth season at the helm, Lane guided the Highlanders to one of the most successful season in the NJIT Division I era, concluding the 2022 season with a 15-15 overall mark. The 15 wins are the second-highest win total since moving to Division I (2006-07 season). The eight road wins is also a new program-best for the Highlanders.
The Highlanders, competing in its second season in the America East, were selected eighth in the 2022 Preseason Coaches Poll and recorded a program-best nine wins to earn the No. 4 seed in the 2022 America East Conference Playoffs. NJIT hosted the first-ever America East Conference quarterfinal game on March 5, 2022 registering the program's first America East victory and postseason win (NJIT 47, UMass Lowell 33) in over 10 seasons.
Lane, who arrived at Bucknell in 2012, was instrumental in the Bison’s three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins, a 48-6 mark in the Patriot League play in the last three seasons, share of the regular season Patriot League title and earning a Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) bid twice (2015; 2018). In 2015, Bucknell won the first-ever postseason game in program history.
“I would also like to thank my Bucknell family for six incredible years,” Lane added. “I would not be in this position without them and will forever be grateful for their efforts on my behalf.”
Prior to Bucknell, Lane served as head coach of Division III Dominican University, leading the Stars to a 69-61 overall record in five seasons.
In 2011, Lane earned Northern Athletics Conference Coach of the Year, led Dominican to a school-record 20-win season, captured the first-ever NAC South Division title and ranked 17th in the nation in points per game (74.1).
The following season, Dominican (19-9) won its second straight NAC South Division title, reached the NAC Tournament Championship game for the first time in school history and set the program-record for three-point field goals (218), which ranked seventh in NCAA Division III.
Lane started his collegiate coaching career at Division III University of Chicago as an assistant coach in 2005.
At Chicago, he helped the team to a 35-15 overall record, including an undefeated non-conference record (22-0). Lane assisted in Chicago earning the programs first-ever No. 1 ranking in the USAToday/ESPN national poll during the 2006-07 season while establishing the best start to a season with a school-record 16-game win streak.
The 2006-07 team set school-records in rebounds in a season, finished fourth nationally in rebounding margin (+10.8) and 24th in field goal percentage defense (33.9 percent).
His first coaching experience came at the high school level, as he served as the boys’ varsity assistant coach at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, IL from 2003-05.
A 1993 graduate of Notre Dame, Lane earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
What They’re Saying
Aaron Roussell, Bucknell head women’s basketball coach (2012-present)
"Mike has been a huge part of our success at Bucknell; we will miss him here, but we are incredibly happy for him to have the opportunity to lead his own program. He has had a hand in all that we do here and he is more than ready to lead a resurgence for the women's basketball program at NJIT. Witnessing his work ethic and attention to detail over the last six years gives me the full confidence to say that this is a "can't miss hire"; and I look forward to closely following all of the success ahead for the Highlanders. I sincerely thank Mike for all he has done for our program and we wish the best of luck in this new endeavor."
Maisha Kelly, Bucknell Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator
"We are extremely happy for Mike and his family, as Mike embarks on this tremendous opportunity to lead the NJIT Women's Basketball program. Mike is a significant contributor to the recent success of Bison Women's Basketball. He has been a member of the staff ever since Aaron Roussell assumed the head coach position, and I know he will be missed. Mike not only possesses a high level of knowledge with regard to the technical aspects of basketball, but brings a genuine approach to developing the whole person and providing women with an opportunity to use basketball as a vehicle for growth and education that can be applied to all arenas of their undergraduate experience. We are proud to wish Mike well as he progresses in his career."
Mike McLaughlin, UPenn head women’s basketball coach (2009-present)
“Mike did a tremendous job helping build Bucknell into one of the best programs in the Patriot League. He is a great person and leader to be around. Mike puts forth his best effort in everything he does. I am looking forward to seeing him take NJIT to new heights in his new role as head coach.”
(Updated May 2022)
