Will Lanier joined the women’s basketball coaching staff in July 2022 after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at Vermont since 2019.
During his tenure with the Catamounts, Lanier has played a key role in helping the program to four straight seasons with at least 20 wins, three America East titles (2023, 2025, and 2026), and three NCAA Tournament appearances. This past season, the Catamounts secured its first outright America East title since 2002, as well as their first 27-win season since 2009-10.
Lanier has been instrumental in the development of two of the more decorated post players in program history, Anna Olson and Nikola Priede. Olson finished her career with 1,686 points, ranking ninth all-time in program history, and added 853 rebounds, fifth all-time. She earned All-Conference First Team honors twice and was named the America East Elite 18 Award winner in 2024-25. Olson currently plays professionally in Italy for the Italian Serie A2 league for Pallacanestro Sanga Milano
Priede finished her career with 1,036 points and ranks fourth all-time in program history with 119 career blocks. She was named America East Defensive Player of the Year in 2025-26 and earned All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Priede was also a two-time America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2025, 2026) and earned All-Championship Team recognition both years.
In 2025-26, he helped guide the Catamounts to an America East championship and one of the top defenses in the nation, ranking 3rd in scoring defense at 52.2 points allowed per game and 4th in 3pt field goal defense. Vermont was also ranked 2nd nationally in turnovers per game. Priede led the way, ranking among the conference leaders in field goal percentage, blocks, and rebounding.
During the 2024-25 season, Vermont captured the America East title at UAlbany. Olson and Priede anchored the team’s success. The Catamounts again ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 52.9 points per game. Olson led the conference in field goal percentage, while Priede ranked among the league leaders in blocks.
In 2023-24, Vermont finished as the America East runner-up and ranked second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 52.8 points per game. Olson emerged as a key contributor, leading the conference in field goal percentage while averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Lanier made an immediate impact in his first season in 2022-23, helping the Catamounts reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009-10 and capture an America East title. UVM also finished the regular season on a 17-game winning streak while claiming a share of the regular season title and the overall number one seed. Vermont ranked among the top 100 nationally in multiple categories, including scoring defense, allowing just 54.1 points per game.
Lanier arrived at Vermont with more than 18 years of Division I experience. Before joining the Catamounts, he served as an assistant coach at Niagara from 2013-18, where he developed and implemented a comprehensive recruiting model focused on academic and athletic development. During his time at Niagara, Lanier recruited and coached a three-time MAAC all-league member, the 7th all-time leading scorer, and the 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 the 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.
Before Marist, Lanier spent four seasons at St. John’s. There, he spent the 2006-08 seasons full-time on staff after working as a graduate assistant from 2004-06. While at St. John’s, he earned a master’s degree in School Building Leadership.
Lanier graduated from Georgia Tech in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. 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.