After being on the winning side for more than three-fourths of his contests and winning the last six league crowns, the Cardinals have a new women’s hoops director. Wheeling Jesuit announces Mike Llanas of Owens Community College (Ohio) as its new women’s basketball head coach.
Llanas comes to the Cardinals after a highly-decorated tenure as the Owens Community College’s “Winningest Coach.” The veteran coach led the Express to a 351-103 overall record (.773), eight Ohio Community College Athletic Conference titles and four National Collegiate Junior Athletic Association Tournament Appearances, including making it to the 2016 and 2018 Elite Eight and to the 2014 Final Four. His team also registered the school’s first perfect regular season finish of 30-0 in the 2016-17 campaign.
“My wife and family are excited to join Cardinal Nation. The staff, coaches, and community have been supportive and inviting during this transition. I look forward to working with the team in bringing a new era of women’s basketball to Wheeling Jesuit University,” said Llanas.
The new WJU head coach takes over a program just one year removed from back-to-back Mountain East Conference Tournament crowns and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region National Championship berths.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Coach Llanas to lead our women’s basketball program into the future,” said WJU Director of Athletics Rudy Yovich. “Mike is a tireless recruiter and educator, and he is dedicated to giving our student-athletes the best overall experience possible.”
Llanas will officially begin his Cardinals coaching career next week on Monday, June 11.
During his Owens career, Llanas produced a 156-30 OCCAC league record to go with his 351 overall career wins. His clubs averaged 25 wins, while they produced six Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-Americans, two NJCAA All-Americans, eight Academic All-Americans and numerous All-OCCAC players. Llanas had his team in the NJCAA Top 20 in each of the past six seasons and his squads also ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 in 3-point field goals made per game.
Last season, the seven-time Conference Coach of the Year and four-time Regional Coach of the Year captured his eighth OCCAC title as his team compiled a 26-6 mark. The Express went on to win the Region XII District I Tournament and advanced to the NJCAA Division II National Championship, where it finished in the Elite Eight for the second year in a row. His team recorded two double-digit win streaks of 10 and 13 victories in a row.
Prior to taking over the Owens Express reigns in 2003, Llanas guided the Ohio Rockers AAU team from 1999-2004. The Rockers won six Tournament Championships and the 2001 AYBT National Championship. He also has scholastic head coaching experience with Elmwood High School (1995-97) in Bloomdale, Ohio.
The Sienna Heights University graduate, is married to Kelly Llanas and father of three children – Andrew (19), Cora (12) and Emilio (7).
Photo Courtesy WJU Athletics
Tagged with: DII Mountain East
