Lillard comes to UIC from nearby Danville, Ill. where she most recently served as an assistant coach to the girls’ varsity basketball team at Schlarman Academy. Lillard was instrumental in developing the defensive strategies that helped the Hilltoppers win the 2017-18 Class 1A State Championship, dropping just one game through 34 contests.
Lillard played and earned her degree at Rutgers University, and was co-captain of the women’s basketball squad alongside Pointer in 1999-2000. During her time with the Scarlet Knights Lillard earned titles such as Most Improved Player and Best Defensive Player.
The defensive specialist was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame alongside Pointer in 2005 as a member of the 1999-2000 Scarlet Knights that made the program’s first ever Final Four appearance. Lillard is also the all-time leading scorer at Danville High School, amassing a whopping 1,522 points in her four years.
“The great thing about LaTana is that she is a former Division I athlete herself,” head coach Tasha Pointer commented. “She will be in charge of our operations, making sure that everyone is well informed and received throughout the athletics department as well as other constituents at the University.”
In 2002, Lillard joined the City of Danville Police Department, where she served as a police officer and field training officer until 2012. Over the last 16 years, Lillard has devoted time to coaching at several places including the Danville Family YMCA, South View Middle School, North Ridge Middle School, DV Stars and B-Squad out in Champaign, Ill. to stay close to the game.
Additionally, Lillard founded the iAspire Training Academy in Danville in 2008, where she saw some of the nation’s best talent pass through her doors in the last decade.
“LaTana is a perfect fit for the program because of her knowledge of the sport and desire to help young women excel inside and outside the classroom. As a former collegiate athlete with a background in law enforcement and also secondary education, she brings a unique skill set of directing individuals and programs to achieving their best. She will use these skills to continuously build and foster healthy relationships with our young women.”
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