Coach Lauren Unger begins her second season guiding the Lady Mustangs for the 2017-18 season.
Unger recently finished up her first season leading the Lady Mustangs as the head coach during the 2016-17 season. Although WNMU posted five wins, they were competitive in several other games throughout the year. Senior Jordan Gutierrez reached 1,000 points in her career, along with taking home D2CCA and Lone Star Conference accolades. The Lady Mustangs won four of their first six games of the season against Oklahoma Panhandle State, Rogers State, Northern New Mexico and Western State. Another early non-conference win nearly happened against one of the top teams in the South Central Region in Colorado Mesa, as the Mavs had to use a late second half run to avoid the upset.
Late in the season, WNMU challenged the top two teams that tied for the Lone Star regular season crown in Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State. The Lady Mustangs nearly erased a 15-point fourth quarter deficit at the Greyhounds, getting back to within three before Eastern New Mexico held on for the five-point win. After posting their first conference win of the season against Texas A&M-Kingsville, WNMU went right down to the wire versus nationally-ranked Angelo State. Behind a big third quarter, the Lady Mustangs got back to within five in the fourth quarter before the Rambelles held on for the win.
Before arriving at WNMU, Unger was the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach and Head Women's Cross Country Coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
"After an extensive search which resulted in many qualified candidates, we are very happy to name Lauren Unger as our new head women's basketball coach," Director of Athletics Mark Coleman said. "Coach Unger made herself into a solid player through hard work and dedication and I feel she will do the same as a coach. She was part of a successful program at Arkansas Ft. Smith and we feel she will be the one to lead us to great heights as we move into the Lone Star Conference."
Unger spent the past nearly three years in her dual role at UAFS helping the team to back-to-back 20 win seasons on the basketball court. During the 2014-15 season the team reached a first in program history making it to the NCAA Tournament and also posted their first win against Colorado Mesa. She assisted Head Coach Louis Whorton, who was named Heartland Coach of the Year in 2014-15.
"I am beyond elated to be able to call myself the new Women's Basketball Coach for Western New Mexico University. I feel extremely blessed and want to thank both Coach Mark Coleman and Dr. Joseph Shepard for giving me this opportunity," Unger said. "I am excited to not only work at such an amazing University, but to be a part of the beautiful community of Silver City. The family-like atmosphere was evident both on campus and in the community, and is something I am thrilled to be a part of. I hope to continue the positive direction the women's basketball program is going, and establish a culture of excellence both on and off the court."
In addition to helping the basketball team to new heights, she guided the cross country team to some notable accomplishments. She led the team to their first cross country meet win in program history as a first-year head coach. She managed all aspects of the program, without the help of an assistant coach.
Before arriving at UAFS she was the Graduate Assistant Coach for her alma mater, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, for the 2012-13 season. The team went 21-8 that year, winning the Heartland Conference regular season title. Coached the Player of the Year in the Heartland and had two First-Team All-Heartland Conference players. She assisted Head Coach Jerome Willis, who was named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in 2012-13.
Prior to starting her coaching career, she played four years for the UTPB women's basketball program. She was named the team MVP in 2012, along with being named to the All-Heartland Conference Team and won the program's first Heartland Conference Championship in 2011. She holds the Heartland Conference and the UTPB record for most career three-pointers and holds the single season record as well.
