BURLINGTON, Vt. – Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge has finalized her coaching staff ahead of the start of the 2022-23 regular season. The new faces on Kresge's sideline this season will include two former women's professional basketball players Nevena Markovic and Shenita Landry, as well as a familiar face in Will Lanier. Markovic joins the staff after seven years of professional basketball. Landry is bringing 13 years of professional experience to the Catamount bench. Lanier has experience in Catamount Country having served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at UVM over the past three seasons.
 
"I couldn't be more excited about the three new additions to our staff. They all come with a ton of experience in the basketball world and a real passion for people and the game," said Coach Kresge of the incoming staff members."
 
RELATED LINKS
2022-23 Schedule
2022-23 Roster
 
Markovic was a four-year student-athlete at IUPUI, earning captain's honors for her women's basketball team in the 2014-2015 season. During her career at IUPUI she was named Freshman of the Year in 2012, Summit League Second Team All-Conference in 2014, Academic Honor Roll in 2013 and 2014, and was selected an Honorable Mention to the All-Summit League in 2014-2015. During her international career she was a part of Serbian U20 team and was named Co-MVP of the Spanish League in the first round of play. Markovic also earned the Slovakian Cup and the Slovakian League Championship in 2018-19. She played professionally in several countries during her seven-year professional career (2015-2022), including Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and France. In addition to her playing experience Markovic has also served as an Assistant Coach at St. Francis, a skills coach in Plainfield, Illinois and a program coordinator and assistant coach with the Illinois Rockets.
 
"During Nev's entire playing career, collegiately and professionally, she has always prioritized building and fostering meaningful relationships," said Kresge. "Nev's great value of character and basketball success will continue to enhance our program."
 
Landry, a Milwaukee native, attended Temple University where she played basketball from 2005-2009. During her four-year career with the Owls, she appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, winning the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2005 and 2006. She was named A-10 Second Team All-Conference and to the A-10 Defensive Team in 2008-09. She finished eighth all-time in program history in rebounds with 747, earned the A-10's Most Improved Player Award as well as a Big 5 First Team Honors, and finished her career amassing a total of 103 blocks. In her professional career, she played 13 seasons across seven different countries including Australia, Germany and France. During her time in France, she won the French LF2 Championship.
 
"I have been impressed with Nita's go-getter mentally and her desire to positively impact everything she is involved with. Nita's 13-year professional career along with her attention to detail will enhance our student-athletes' journey at UVM and beyond," Coach Kresge had to say.
 
Lanier joins the women's basketball coaching staff after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at UVM since 2019. He brings over 20 years of Division I athletic experience including assistant coaching stints with Marist and Niagara from 2008-2018. During his five years (2013-2018) at Niagara as the Assistant Coach, Lanier was responsible for recruiting and developing student-athletes which led to a three-time MAAC all-league member, and seventh all-time leading scorer, 2018 MAAC Player of the Year and AP All-America honorable mention. Lanier spent five seasons (2008-2013) with Marist as the Assistant Coach and Director of Basketball Operations where he was responsible for scouting, recruiting, and day-to-day budget operations. Prior to his time at Marist, Lanier spent four seasons on the staff of St. John's University in the Big East Conference. He served the 2006-08 seasons full-time on staff after working as a graduate assistant from 2004-06.
 
"Will's twenty plus years of experience at all levels of Division 1 athletics is going to be a great asset to the growth of our program," said Coach Kresge. "He brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and a strong ability to develop student-athletes on and off the court."
 
Vermont will open the 2022-23 campaign with a road trip to Indiana where they will take on Indiana and Miami (OH). The Catamounts first regular season home game will come against AIC on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. All of the Catamounts home games and America East contests will stream live on ESPN3 or ESPN+.