Lyndonville, VT - Vermont State University Lyndon has named Robin Andrea as its new Head Women's Basketball Coach, succeeding Brennen Morton, who stepped down shortly after the 2024-25 season.  Saleena Porter, who has been serving as Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach since Morton's departure, will remain in her previous role of Assistant Coach.

Andrea comes to Lyndon after serving as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Portland Community College in Portland, OR, during the 2024-25 season.  In his lone season at Portland he led the Panthers to a 14-15 record, including a 7-9 mark and a 5th Place finish in the Northwest Athletic Conference South Region.  Most significantly, he placed 100% of his graduating class into four-year universities.

Andrea's first collegiate head coaching position came at Yakima Valley College in Yakima, WA, where he spent three seasons from 2021 through 2024.  At Yakima Valley he took over a program that had only won two games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season and built it into a NWAC contender.  In 2023-24 he led the Yaks to a 14-12 record, 8-6 in NWAC play, and a berth in the NWAC Sweet 16.  His team was among the top five scoring teams in the conference, and he coached three All-Region players including 2022-23 Region Most Valuable Player Aliyah Finch.

Immediately before going to Yakima Valley, Andrea was the lead assistant women's coach at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, OR, for three seasons.  At Linn-Benton he recruited seven signees who were key contributors to the Roadrunners' 20-9 season in 2019-20, the program's first 20-win season in a decade.  He was also the team's defensive strategist as it achieved a top three ranking across the conference.

Andrea's first foray into college coaching came with NCAA Division II Western Oregon University.  He spent five seasons working with the men's program from 2006 through 2011, before moving over to the women's program for the 2011-12 campaign.  He managed strength training and skill development with the men's program.  With the women he served as head recruiter, worked with the post players, and developed the team's press schemes.

In between his stints at Western Oregon and Linn-Benton, Andrea spent four seasons with the boys basketball program at Hillsoboro, OR, including two as head coach.

Andrea earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Mathematics from Western Oregon University in 2009 and a Master of Science in Sport & Recreation Science from Ohio University in 2011.

Andrea is excited to hit the ground running, literally and figuratively.  ""I'm thrilled to lead the Women's Basketball Program at this outstanding institution.  My gratitude goes to David Pasiak, Tara Nelson, and Chris Gilmore for their trust in me.  The deeper I explored our remarkable school, the more energized I grew, and I'm confident we can restore success to the Northeast Kingdom in the Hornets' green and gold."

VTSU Lyndon Director of Athletics Chris Gilmore was immediately impressed with Andrea.  "When I first spoke to Robin about the position as women's basketball coach here at Vermont State University Lyndon, he expressed a high level of excitement for the women's basketball program and the University.  That excitement has never wavered throughout the entire interview and hiring process.  He showed the committee that he wants his student athletes to succeed in the classroom and on the basketball court.   Robin is uniquely prepared to lead our athletes moving forward and to position our women's basketball program to challenge for conference championships."

What others are saying about Andrea's hiring:

• "Congrats on the hire— you got a good one!  Robin took over our WBB program on the heels of a winless season during the pandemic.  In three seasons, he returned the program to the championship tournament.  Along the way he recruited and developed a league MVP and defensive player of the year.  He's a program builder who will do things the right way and won't skip steps!" - Ray Funk, Director of Athletics at Yakima Valley Community College.

• "Coach A has always been an exceptional recruiter and brings proven experience of building programs from the ground up.  More importantly, Robin genuinely cares about developing and mentoring the entire student-athlete.  The experience he provides for his student-athletes has always been at the forefront of his vision.  VTSU Lyndon just landed a passionate leader that will set a standard to compete at the top of the NAC on a yearly basis!" - Jerod Gibson, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Portland and former Head Women's Basketball Coach at Linn-Benton Community College.

• "Robin Andrea is one of the hardest workers that I've been around in my 30 years of coaching & operating events.  His work ethic is unmatched & I have no doubt that he will thrive in Vermont & quickly grow the program into a D3 powerhouse!" - Ryan Svenson, Owner of Pure Focus Sports and a 25+ year basketball coach

Andrea will make his debut as VTSU Lyndon head coach on November 8th, when the Hornets will compete in the opening round of the Vermont State University Tip-Off Classic, hosted this year by Vermont State University Randolph.  Lyndon will be looking to build on a 2024-25 campaign which saw them finish 10-15 overall and 7-6 in the North Atlantic Conference.  The Hornets finished second in the NAC's West Division and reached the conference quarterfinals.