UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE ATHLETICS : Women's Basketball

	Matt Rogers
	Head Women's Basketball Coach mrogers@laverne.edu (909) 593-3511, ext. 4249

After an extensive nationwide search, University of La Verne Athletic Director Julie Kline has announced the hiring of Matt Rogers to the position of head women’s basketball coach.

Rogers comes to La Verne from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he enjoyed a successful run as men’s basketball coach. During his tenure, Rogers captured a pair of conference titles and earned two NCAA postseason berths.

After taking over a last place team in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC), Rogers needed only three seasons to completely turn around the Maryville men’s basketball program leading the team to the second NCAA postseason tournament berth in program history in 2003-04, finishing that season with as SLIAC Champions and a 12-2 record in league play.

In 2005-06, the Saints finished as SLIAC Co-Champions and won the SLIAC Tournament Championship. The tournament championship locked up the second NCAA National Tournament berth during Coach Rogers’ tenure. The 2005-06 squad set the program's single season record with 217 made 3-point field goals.

After a rebuilding season in 2006-07, Rogers led the Saints back into the SLIAC Tournament Championship game in 2007-2008. In the 2008-09 season, the Saints would complete their last year of NCAA Division III play and their final season in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by once again advancing to the Conference Tournament.

He received SLIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2003-04 and was a co-recipient in 2005-06.

Rogers also said he will work to maintain the high academic standards and the family atmosphere his previous teams have set for themselves off the floor as well as their commitment to a fast-breaking offense and full-court pressing defensive philosophy on the floor. In addition, Rogers has successfully recruited diverse rosters during his tenure at Maryville, luring players from California, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Prior to Maryville, Rogers served as the head boys’ basketball coach for one year and assistant boys’ basketball coach for two years at Whitfield School in St. Louis. During his time at Whitfield, the boy's basketball team compiled a record of 70-16, including a state championship, district championship and two undefeated conference championships.

His coaching experience also includes one year at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in which the Fighting Bees advanced to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.

He earned his bachelor's degree in English with Secondary Education certification from Coe College in 1997. He also played two seasons on the Coe men's basketball squad.

Rogers and his wife, Karen, have one daughter, Kaia, who is 11 months old.

	Lauren Yadon
	Graduate Assistant lauren.yadon@laverne.edu (909) 593-3511, ext. 4548

Lauren Yadon begins her second season with the La Verne women's basketball program as a graduate assistant for the 2010-11 season. Yadon was a standout Division I performer at UC Irvine, earning All-Big West Freshman honors for the Anteaters in 2002-03. She went on to become a consistent contributor to the UCI program and was among the team leaders in scoring and rebounding before concluding her career in 2006.

After graduating from Irvine with a degree in Psychology and Social Behavior and a minor in Education, Yadon worked as a residential counselor for both Olive Crest and Orange County Mentors for youth. Lauren is currently earning her Master's degree in School Counseling.