Elena Lovato
Elena Lovato
Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach
University of Texas
Experience
2022 – Present: Associate Head Coach, University of Texas
2020 – 2021: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Texas
2018 – 2020: Assistant Coach, Mississippi State University
2016 – 2018: Head Coach, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith
2014 – 2016: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (15-16), Mississippi State University
2012 – 2014: Head Coach, Trinity Valley Community College
2011 – 2012: Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska-Omaha
2010 – 2011: Head Coach, Grayson County Community College
2009 – 2010: Interim Head Coach/Assistant Coach, Trinity Valley Community College
2008 – 2009: Assistant Coach, University of Houston
2008: Graduate Assistant, Pittsburg State University
2001 – 2003: Professional Player, Chicago Blaze (NWBL) & Puerto Rico
1999 – 2001: Player, Missouri Southern State University
1997 – 1999: Player, West Texas A&M University
Education
2008: Pittsburg State University, Masters, Physical Education
2005: Missouri Southern State University, Bachelors, University Studies
Personal
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Career Highlights
Career Record
150-38 (.798) overall & 63-12 (.840)
National Coach of the Year (1)
2013-14
National Championships (2)
2013-14, 2012-13
30+ Win Seasons (3)
2013-14, 2012-13, 2010-11
20+ Win Seasons (4)
2017-18, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2010-11
Winning Seasons (6)
2017-18, 2016-17, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2010-11, 2009-10
Conference Tournament Championships (4)
2013-14, 2012-13, 2009-10 Region XIV & 2010-11 Region V
NCAA Tournament Berths (1)
2017-18
Other National Tournament Berths (4)
2013-14, 2012-13, 2010-11, 2009-10 NJCAA
2013-14 NJCAA National Coach of the Year
Led Trinity Valley CC to back-to-back NJCAA National Championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14
2022-23 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Assistant Coach of the Year
Has helped lead Texas to a 80-25 (.762) overall and 39-15 (.722) Big 12 Conference record, three 21+ win seasons, one Big 12 Conference Regular Season Championship, one Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship, and three NCAA Tournament berths (one Elite Eight appearance)
In 2023-24, assisted Texas to the second-most single-season wins (33) in the program’s Division I history
In 2022-23, helped lead Texas to the program’s first Big 12 Conference Regular Season Championship in 19 seasons
Texas scoring offense finished ranked 12th nationally in 2023-24
Texas scoring defense finished ranked 30th nationally in 2022-23, as well as 1st in the Big 12 in 2023-24 and 2022-23
As Texas’ Recruiting Coordinator, signed a 2021 class that ranked 6th nationally, and helped the program sign a 2023 class that ranked 12th nationally
From 2018 to 2020 and 2016 to 2018, helped lead Mississippi State to a 115-24 (.827) overall and 50-14 (.781) SEC record, four 27+ win seasons, one SEC Regular Season Championship, one SEC Tournament Championship, and four NCAA Tournament berths (one Elite Eight and one Sweet 16 appearance)
Signed a 2019 recruiting class to Mississippi State that ranked 6th nationally, the highest ranked recruiting class in program history
As a Division I Assistant Coach, has recruited and coached 31 all-conference team selections, as well as two Players of the Year, two Defensive Players of the Year, two Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, one Sixth Player of the Year, and the 1st overall selection in the 2021 WNBA draft
From 2016 to 2018, led Arkansas-Fort Smith to a 37-24 (.607) overall and 20-10 (.667) Heartland Conference record, two winning seasons, and one NCAA Tournament berth
Led Trinity Valley and Grayson to a combined 113-8 (.933) record, including four NJCAA Tournament berths
The 2010-11 NJCAA Region V Coach of the Year led Grayson to a 32-4 (.889) record and 5th place finish at the NJCAA Tournament – rebuilt a program that had only won four games the season prior to her arrival
2001 Puerto Rican Women’s Pro Basketball League First-Team All-League selection
1999-00 MIAA Newcomer of the Year at Missouri Southern State
News & Media
4/15/22 – Women’s Basketball Adds Elena Lovato to Coaching Staff
5/15/20 – Longhorns Lunch Break (Longhorn Network)
5/13/20 – Elena Lovato Interview on The Horn (Texas Longhorns)
4/17/20 – Schaefer Names Coaching Staff for Women’s Basketball
6/11/18 – Bulldogs Welcome Elena Lovato Back to Coaching Staff
4/8/16 – Mississippi State’s Lovato Named New Lady Lions Coach
Head Coach Record
| Season | School | Overall | Conference | Championships | Post-Season |
| 2009-10 | Trinity Valley CC (NJCAA) | 9-2 | 9-2 | Region XIV T & District L | NJCAA (6th Place) |
| 2010-11 | Grayson College (NJCAA) | 32-4 | NA | Region V T & District E | NJCAA (5th Place) |
| 2012-13 | Trinity Valley CC (NJCAA) | 36-1 | 16-0 | Region XIV T & District L | NJCAA National Champions |
| 2013-14 | Trinity Valley CC (NJCAA) | 36-1 | 18-0 | Region XIV T & District L | NJCAA National Champions |
| 2016-17 | Arkansas-Fort Smith (DII) | 17-13 | 10-6 | ||
| 2017-18 | Arkansas-Fort Smith (DII) | 20-11 | 10-4 | NCAA (1st Round) | |
| Career | 150-38 (.798) | 63-12 (.840) |