Will Lanier joined the women's basketball coaching staff in July of 2022 after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at UVM since 2019.
In the 2022-23 season Lanier was an integral part of helping the Catamounts reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Lanier served as an Assistant Coach in his first season in Catamount country helping boast one of the top offenses and defenses in the America East.
As a result of his presence, the Catamounts finished the 2022-23 season in the top 100 in the nation in multiple categories including finishing 10th in points per game allowed (54.1), 76th in scoring margin (+7.2), tied for 32nd in winning percentage with .781, 19th in three point percentage (36.5), 90th in field goal percentage (42.7), 17th in fouls per game (13.6), 48th in field goal percentage allowed (37.4) and 28th in three point percentage allowed (27.6).
In his first season with the Catamounts Lanier was crucial in the recruitment and development both academically and athletically of several young players in the program.
Lanier brings over 18 years of Division I experience to Catamount Country. Most recently he served as an assistant coach of the men’s basketball program at Niagara University. At Niagara he developed and implemented a 12-month recruiting model which included academic vision and goals as well as skill development plans. During his time in Niagara Falls, Lanier recruited and coached a 3-time MAAC all-league member, 7th all-time leading scorer and 2018 MAAC Player of the Year.
From 2008 to 2013 Lanier was on the staff at Marist College. He recruited and signed prospects that became the program’s all-time leading scorer and 2014 MAAC Rookie of the Year. He was responsible for maintaining high academic priority and achievement through organized study hall, checking classes and daily student-athlete requirements which led to an Academic All-American and seven All-MAAC academic team members.
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. While at St. John's, he received his master's degree in school building leadership in the school of education.
As an undergraduate, Lanier attended Georgia Tech, where he received a B.S. in business management in 2004. In his time at Georgia Tech, Lanier served as head manager on head coach Paul Hewitt's staff. The Yellow Jackets reached the Final Four and finished as National Runner-up in 2004.