Notables

Looking to build on the first conference championship game appearance in program history in 2008-09, Lauren Thomer has been named the new women’s basketball coach at Manhattanville, athletic director Keith Levinthal announced this afternoon.

“We are very excited about the future of our women's basketball program,” Levinthal said. “Lauren did an outstanding job at Army, and we believe that those same skills and professionalism that made her successful at Army will serve her well at Manhattanville.”

Thomer, who has spent the last three years working with the women’s basketball program at the U.S. Military Academy under coach Dave Magarity, replaces Candice Brown, who left after three seasons to take the head coaching position at Vassar.

“I would like to thank Keith and the search committee for giving me this great opportunity,” Thomer said. “It is a huge challenge for me, but I am ready to embrace it and bring the Manhattanville women’s basketball team to new heights this season.”

Thomer served as an assistant coach with the Army women’s basketball team for each of the last two seasons, helping the team to a 37-24 record over that span. She involved herself heavily in recruiting, scheduling and player development for the Army program, including working closely with the Black Knight guards and perimeter players.

Prior to that stint, Thomer served as head girls’ coach of the U.S. Military Academy Prep School for one season. She was responsible for all aspects of the program, while on the court she posted the program’s first-ever 4-0 record against the other service academy prep schools.

Thomer takes over a Manhattanville program that has been on the rise in recent years, culminating with an 18-11 (12-4 MAC Freedom) season and a berth in the conference title game in 2008-09. The 18 wins were the most by the squad in 25 years and marked the fifth-highest single-season win total in program history.

“A 20-win season is definitely one of my goals for the upcoming season,” Thomer said. “And after getting to the conference title game last year, winning a Freedom Conference championship and reaching the NCAA Tournament is a major goal for this program this year.”

Thomer graduated from Rider in 2004, playing the point for three seasons. The point guard was a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection and received the team’s Academic Excellence award as a senior. She also earned a master’s degree from Virginia in 2006 while serving as the head coach for the school’s club basketball team, leading the squad to a 46-6 record and the 2005 East Coast Women’s Club Championship over two seasons.

Thomer begins her duties immediately and will spend the coming months preparing for the beginning of the 2009-10 season, her first as a collegiate head coach.

“Anytime you start with a new program there are challenges asked of you,” Thomer said. “My biggest challenge will be to get the returning players and our seven new recruits on the same page and looking toward the future. We have a great chance for success due to the great support of the school and its administration.”

Thomer and the Valiants will begin the 2009-10 season on Nov. 17, when the team travels to William Paterson for a 7 p.m. non-conference tip-off.