ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State and Director of Athletics Andy Carter have selected its next women's basketball coach in Brett Vana, a former assistant coach at Weber State University.
"Brett quickly became someone who we had a lot of interest in and he did a very good job during his visit to campus," said Andy Carter, Director of Athletics. "His energy, passion and desire to build a championship-caliber women's basketball program made him a great fit for Northwestern."
"It is a true honor and blessing to be named the new women's basketball coach at NWOSU," Vana said. "I would like to take the time to thank Dr. Cunningham, Andy Carter, and the fine athletic staff at NWOSU for their support with this decision."
Before taking over the Ranger program, Vana spent the past two seasons as the Weber State women's assistant.
Prior to Vana becoming part of the Wildcat program in 2013, he spent the previous two seasons as the head coach of Louisburg College in Louisburg N.C. At Louisburg he guided the Hurricanes to a 32-3 overall record and captured the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division II national championship during the 2012-13 season. He had numerous athletes honored along the way, including having the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Junior College Player of the Year.
Vana was able to take his team to back-to-back Region X titles and sent multiple student-athletes to four-year universities.
In the 2011-12 season, Vana's team made it all the way to the NJCAA national semifinals, and he took the Region X Coach of the Year honor, the NJCAA District J Coach of the Year as well as the WBCA Runner-up for Coach of the Year.
Prior to Louisburg, Vana served as a trainer and talent evaluator at the Champions Academy in Indianapolis. He has spent the majority of his coaching career overseas, working with professional leagues in places including Switzerland, Germany and Denmark. Before leaving the United States in 1999, he also spent a season coaching at Western Kentucky University as a graduate assistant. He was also an assistant high school coach prior to that for one season where he won a North Carolina State Championship with Providence Day high school in Charlotte, N.C.
Vana attended Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, where he was a four-year starter for the Storm. As a player, he received several honors including NAIA Great Lakes All-Region team and Male Athlete of the Year. In April 2000, he was inducted into the Lake Erie College Hall of Fame. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry.
What others are saying about Brett Vana:
Jerry Bovee – Director of Athletics at Weber State: "Brett Vana's persistence and dedication will be a great benefit to the women's basketball program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University."
Stephanie Gaitley – Head Basketball Coach at Fordham University: "I have enjoyed getting to know Brett over the years. I recommended him to Louisburg where he led them to a National Championship. Brett is a winner both on and off the court. I am confident he will lead Northwestern Oklahoma State University to new heights."
Larry Tidwell – Head Women's Basketball Coach at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: "Brett coaches with passion, with great knowledge of the game, and with integrity. Great hire by the Rangers and look for a quick turnaround in that program as Brett recruits across the entire world and that will complement the excellent young players that he has on his roster. The Great American Conference just got tougher with the addition of Brett Vana."
