Lance LaVetter, a member of nine college basketball teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament during his vast coaching career, joins the Redhawk men’s basketball program as an assistant coach.
LaVetter spent 12 seasons as the director of basketball operations under Lorenzo Romar at the University of Washington, where he was responsible for team travel, game operations, community outreach projects, youth programs, and alumni relations. He also directed the Lorenzo Romar Basketball Camps and has extensive experience as a summer camp director and instructor, coaching at the University of San Diego, Eastern Arizona, and University of Arizona camps in the past.
LaVetter, along with Romar and Dollar, came to Washington from Saint Louis University, where he spent three years on the coaching staff. He served as an assistant coach for the University of Portland’s women’s basketball team from 1997 to 1999, helping the Pilots reach the 1999 WNIT, and for the New Mexico State men’s basketball program from 1995 to 1997, helping lead the Aggies to the Big West Conference championship in 1996.
A 1992 graduate of Northern Arizona University, LaVetter received his bachelor's degree in education, specializing in social sciences. He was a one-year letterman in basketball for the Lumberjacks.
LaVetter was a multi-sport athlete at Rincon High School in Tucson, Ariz. and graduated in 1986 after earning all-state honors in baseball and all-metro honors in basketball. He also was an honorable mention all-state selection in basketball and a letterman in football. He continued his basketball career at Pima Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in education.
Lance and his wife, Michelle, have a daughter, Delaney Morgan.