PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- Lake Erie College Athletics announced today that Mikayla Lopez has been named the next head coach of the Storm women's basketball program.

"We are excited to welcome Mikayla Lopez as the next head coach of our women's basketball program, said Executive Director of Athletics, Molly Hoffman. "Coach Lopez is a proven leader with a strong track record of building winning cultures through elite recruiting, meaningful relationship-building, and successful fundraising efforts. Her passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the court, combined with her vision, energy, and competitive drive, make her the perfect fit to lead our program into a new era of success."

Mikayla Lopez comes to Lake Erie College after four seasons as head coach at Bethany College, where she led the Bison to four consecutive Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament appearances. In her inaugural season, Bethany competed hard in the PAC Tournament quarterfinals before falling to eventual conference champion Saint Vincent College. The following season, the Bison took another step forward with a trip to the PAC Tournament semifinals, where their postseason run ended against the Chatham University Cougars. Bethany posted its best season under Lopez in 2025-26, finishing 17-10 overall and 11-5 in PAC play, the program's best record in 20 years, while earning a signature victory over #12 Randolph–Macon College.

Prior to joining the Bison, Lopez spent two seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach at Aurora University. During her time with the Spartans, she helped the program establish school records for most points scored in a game (112) and most three-pointers made in a game (18). The program also ranked eighth nationally in NCAA Division III in scoring offense during her final season, averaging 80.0 points per game.

"I am truly honored and excited at the opportunity to be named the next head women's basketball coach for Lake Erie College, said Lopez. "Special thanks to President Jennifer Schuller, Athletic Director Molly Hoffman and the rest of the hiring committee for their trust and belief in my vision for this program. I am thrilled at the chance to create genuine relationships with our student athletes and to help develop them to reach their full potential both on and off the court!"

Lopez began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Mountain Vista High School and has also gained experience on the AAU circuit, serving as head coach for the M14 Hoops Basketball Academy in Aurora, Illinois, during the summer of 2021 and QC Attack in Bettendorf, Iowa, during the summer of 2018. In addition, Lopez worked as an intern with the Chicago Sky during the summer of 2017, assisting with the planning, organization, and execution of marketing activities and events throughout the season.

A 2019 graduate of Augustana College, Lopez was a standout point guard for the Vikings during her collegiate playing career. She led the team in both assists and steals in 2017 and set a single-season program record with a 91.0 free-throw percentage. Lopez earned bachelor's degrees in business administration/marketing and political science from Augustana before completing her master's degree in business administration with an emphasis in leadership from Aurora University.