What happens when a 6'3" powerhouse turns her competitive fire into coaching excellence? Meet Coach Annalese Lamke, one of women’s basketball’s rising stars and an assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland. From her small-town Wisconsin roots to her Big Ten grind at the University of Minnesota, and now mentoring the next generation of athletes, Coach Lamke’s story is all about resilience, gratitude, and joy in the journey.
In this episode of SportsLifeTalk: You Got Next, Head Coach KT and B Jones sit down with Annalese to talk about her path from player to coach, the lessons she learned at every stage, and how she’s helping shape Loyola’s winning culture—one possession at a time.
Born and raised in Galesville, Wisconsin (population 1,600), Annalese Lamke fell in love with basketball early. She used to sneak onto the court during her older brother’s timeouts just to shoot around—planting the seeds of a lifelong passion for the game.
“Basketball is a gift,” she says. “Even as a kid, I just wanted to play and be part of it.”
That drive led her to become a standout at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School, before earning her way to the University of Minnesota, where she’d represent the Gophers on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
At Minnesota, Annalese’s role wasn’t always about the spotlight—it was about growth. Despite limited playing time, she earned multiple Big Ten All-Academic honors, showing that excellence isn’t defined by minutes played but by mindset.
“If I wasn’t going to shine on the court, I was going to excel in the classroom,” she recalls. That dedication and discipline became the bedrock of her coaching philosophy—control what you can, give your best, and lift others while you climb.
After college, Lamke jumped into the coaching world as a Director of Basketball Operations (DOBO) under Coach Danielle O’Banion at Loyola Maryland. It was her introduction to the behind-the-scenes grind of college basketball.
“Buses were my biggest rival,” she laughs. “You haven’t lived until you’ve had to rebook travel for 15 people at 2 a.m.”
Those long nights built her confidence, attention to detail, and leadership skills. It wasn’t long before Coach O’Banion promoted her to Assistant Coach, where Lamke’s charisma, work ethic, and player-first approach made her an immediate asset to the program.
At Loyola, Coach Lamke has helped create a culture built on toughness, energy, and authenticity. Her philosophy centers on “chips and ships”—players who have chips on their shoulders and the championship mindset to back it up.
“We want athletes who are tough, resilient, and ready to prove themselves every single day,” she says. Under her guidance, the Greyhounds are pushing the tempo, defending hard, and playing with heart.
When she’s not scouting talent or breaking down film, you’ll find Coach Lamke exploring Baltimore’s food scene. Her go-to spots? Nick’s Fish House for crab cakes and Kisling’s Tavern for honey Old Bay wings. “The food here is next-level,” she says. “I’m working my way through the menu!”
Outside of basketball, she’s all about keeping perspective—enjoying downtime, connecting with her players, and reminding herself why she fell in love with the game in the first place.
While Annalese hopes to one day return to her alma mater as a coach, she’s not rushing the process. “I’m staying where my feet are,” she says. “I love what I do and who I get to do it with. That’s what matters most.”
With her humor, humility, and heart, Coach Lamke is proving that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about impact.
How Annalese turned self-doubt into confidence
The behind-the-scenes stories from her DOBO days
What “chips and ships” means for her team’s mindset
The lessons she’s teaching the next generation of players