The Wabash Valley College Lady Warriors basketball team has a new coach, Salem High School graduate Zach Loll.
Loll has been the coach for the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels for the past five years and has posed a 95-64 record. This past season his team went 27-8 overall, 16-0 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference, and made it to the NJCAA National Tournament's Final Four.
When Loll took over the Kaskaskia program the team had an 8-22 record.
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Loll received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and his master's degree from Eastern Illinois University. He served as an assistant coach for the Lake Land College men's team in 1997-98, was at the University of Indianapolis for the 1998-99 season, and at Southwestern Illinois College, where he worked with Jay Harrington, the former WVC Warriors head coach.
"I am very excited to become a part of the Wabash Valley College family," said Loll. "I look to build the program back to the days of Stephanie Smith, and my goal is to build back that winning tradition."
"I want to build a quality program that the college and the community will be proud of. The community, I know, loves its basketball and I look forward to the crowds coming out to our games," he added.
"I will recruit ladies that the college and the community will be proud of and want to support. I have been in touch with several recruits and talking with the ladies that have already signed. I am anxious to get on campus, meet the staff and get out into the community as well," said Loll.
Loll has also served as athletic director of 12 different programs over the past eight year in addition to his duties as the women's basketball coach.
He and his wife, Andrea, have twin sons, Blain and Cooper, age 4.
"It became clear through the interview process that Zach has a commitment to excellence in all he does," said WVC President Matt Fowler. "He has a tireless passion and desire for student athletes to succeed in the classroom and in life. He is also very focused on the local community and is anxious to begin building relationships in the area."
"Wabash Valley College is excited about Zach Loll becoming a part of our athletic department," said Paul Schnarre, the school's athletic director. "He emerged as the clear front-runner out of 40 applications for the position of women's basketball coach."
"He brings outstanding educational credentials along with his coaching. He has a proven track record and in 2009 his Kaskaskia team won the GRAC and finished Fourth at the National Tournament," Schnarre added. "He also brings experience in athletic administration and has been at Kaskaskia for the past eight years. Zach is held in high regard by his peers."
"He is currently serving as Assistant Region Director for Region 24, a position that has allowed him to interact with personnel at the NJCAA National Office. When you add this all together, he is going to make an outstanding addition to our athletic department," Schnarre noted.