Lora Westling, a member of the 2005 Division II national championship team and multiple all-conference honors in two sports, joined Coach Smith in June of 2010 and is in her third season on the bench as the programs’ top assistant.
Westling was a two-time all-MIAA selection for the Washburn (Kan.) University women’s basketball, where she was a major contributor on the Lady Blues 2005 national championship squad. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in both three-point field goals made (144) as well as games played (132), and still ranked in the programs’ top 10 in both categories. She also distributed nearly 300 assists in her career.
She added all-MIAA and all-region accolades on the soccer field and was the team’s most valuable player in her final season. She was the Washburn’s senior athlete of the year in 2006.
While working to earn her Masters of Business Administration, Westling served as a graduate assistant for both Lady Blues soccer and basketball programs, coaching a combined 12 all-MIAA selections, two all-Americans, two MIAA defensive players of the year and a WNBA first-round draft pick.
Prior to coming to Truman, Westling spent three seasons as the top assistant coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She assisted in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, scouting, training and travel coordination. She helped direct the program’s fundraising while also coordinating all team community service participation.
