La Salle University Women's Basketball welcomed its seventh head coach in the program's history on August 30, 2004, when Tom Lochner was appointed to lead the team starting the 2004-05 season. This season, Lochner will be coaching in his 23rd season at the school overall, his sixth as head coach.
After an injury-plagued season in 2007-08, Lochner will look to return his squad to the success they enjoyed the previous season, when the Explorers posted the most wins in a season (19) in more than a decade. Among some other accomplishments turned out by the 2006-07 squad was: becoming only the second La Salle squad in team history to start 7-0; winning nine games on the road for the first time since the 1991-92 season (10); matching the best-ever home mark at Tom Gola Arena (10-3); posting the best-ever winning streak at home in a single season (six straight); and registering a .500 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play (7-7) for the first time in six season.
The Explorers were also in the hunt for the Big 5 title, winning their first two games of the year and a date on Feb. 12 at Temple would decide the outcome. La Salle dropped the game to the Owls, but finished the Big 5 campaign 2-2 - its best record since 1999-00 - and at the end of the season, Lochner was named Big 5 Coach of the Year.
All that success came on the heels of a successful 2006 portion of the 2005-06 season. La Salle went 7-1 in the month of January, the most wins in one month in more than a decade and started the conference 6-1, which vaulted them to the top of the A-10 standings for the first time in school history (Jan. 23). However, health and injury problems late hurt the team and they finished the season 11-17, 7-9 in the conference.
However, the 14 conference wins in those back-to-back seasons was the most this decade and matched the output during the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons, when the Explorers also won 14.
In his first year as head coach, Lochner guided the Explorers to a 12-16 record (6-10 A-10), which included their first win over George Washington, an NCAA qualifier, in 24 years, and a 9-5 record at home.
The journey for Lochner at La Salle began when he joined the Explorers coaching staff in 1987 serving as a volunteer assistant for two seasons. After gaining full-time coaching status in 1989, he remained as an assistant coach until the 1998-99 season, when he was promoted to associate head coach.
He has been involved in all aspects of the Explorers program during his career at the school, which included serving as recruiting coordinator, and overseeing the skill development of both the guards and the post players. Lochner has been extensively involved in game coaching, scouting, daily practice and pregame preparations throughout his previous 22 years. He also worked with the academic support staff regarding student-athlete progress.
During his 17 years at La Salle University prior to his head coaching stint, Lochner had been part of 296 La Salle victories (296-196 overall). He had also been with the team for two NCAA Tournament appearances, one WNIT Tournament appearance, three conference titles, four Big 5 titles, and five 20-win seasons.
Lochner started his coaching career in his hometown of Schenectady, NY at his alma mater, Bishop Gibbons High School. He coached the girls basketball team from 1980-87, with his first three seasons guiding the junior varsity squad and the last four as the varsity head coach.
During his varsity tenure, Bishop Gibbons posted an 88-13 record and captured the 1986 New York State Championships (Large Division) with a 26-2 record. His team also won three sectional titles, and Lochner was honored as New York State Section II Coach of the Year twice - in 1985 and 1986.
In addition to coaching at the high school and college levels, Lochner has extensive summer camp experience, teaching basketball fundamentals to young athletes. He is also actively involved in alumni and booster fundraising activities.
Lochner holds two degrees from Temple University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education (1989) and an ED.M in Sports Management (1997). He also earned a Master's of Education from La Salle in 2006.
Lochner, wife Beth, son Curtis, and daughter Samantha, reside in Willow Grove.
