Roosevelt women’s basketball coach Deon Thomas announced that Alex Fanning has joined the Lakers coaching staff for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Fanning is a native of Elmwood Park, Ill., and returns to Chicagoland after two seasons as an assistant coach at Tiffin.
“Alex is a tremendous addition to our program and to the Roosevelt University Women’s Basketball family,” Thomas said. “Having coached Alex as a player, I’ve had the opportunity to watch her grow as a leader, competitor and mentor over the years. She understands the standard, work ethic and culture that winning programs are built on. Alex brings great energy, a strong basketball mind and an infectious personality that our players and staff will benefit from immediately.”
Thomas was an assistant coach at Benedictine in 2019 when Fanning was a freshman phenom for the Eagles. She was named the NACC Player of the Year in her first year at Benedictine and was also named Rookie of the Year for the Midwest Region. Fanning would go on to repeat as NACC Player of the Year in 2022 before playing her final year of eligibility at Truman State in 2022-23, where she was named a third-team All-GLVC selection
Fanning stayed on at Truman State in 2023-24 as a graduate assistant before heading to Tiffin. In 2024, Fanning participated in the So You Want To Be A Coach program sponsored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She went on to help guide Megan Campbell to second-team All-GMAC honors this past season for the Dragons and oversaw seven student-athletes earning CSC Academic All-District honors in two seasons at Tiffin.
“I am beyond excited to begin this new chapter with Roosevelt University Women’s Basketball,” Fanning said. “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. I can’t wait to learn, grow, build meaningful relationships, and compete alongside an amazing staff. I am excited to get to work and be a part of something special!”
Tagged with: D2
