In 2022, Lawrence Central High School made Jannon Lampley the new head coach for the girls varsity basketball team. Within two seasons, Lampley became the first African American woman to win a state championship in the 120+ year history of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).
“Coach Lampley has dedicated her professional career to basketball and the development of young women in the sport,” Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township Dr. Shawn A. Smith said. “We are excited to see her take the reins of the girls program at Lawrence Central and look forward to celebrating program success.”
And just like that, Lampley has already taken the girls basketball program at LCHS to new heights. The LCHS Lady Bears defeated the Lake Central Indians 55-28 on Feb. 24 to secure the 4A State Championship title. The stifling defense of the Lady Bears held Lake Central to the lowest-scoring games in the championship’s history.
Lampley’s extensive experience both as a player and coach made her the perfect candidate for the job. She graduated from Urbana High School in Illinois, where she helped lead the team to three State Final Fours. She was honored as the 1993 Gatorade Player of the Year, Ms. Basketball and a Kodak All-American.
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After graduating from high school, Lampley attended Purdue University, where she helped lead Purdue to three Big 10 titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Lampley was named the 2007 team’s Most Valuable Player and Big Ten Player of the Year. She went on to play for the Columbus Quest in the American Basketball League and was a 2009 Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Lampley was drafted by the WNBA, where she spent a season with the Orlando Miracle and helped the team advance to the 2000 playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
“We are excited for Coach Lampley to lead our girls basketball program and continue to play an impactful role in our school community,” Lawrence Central High School Principal Franklyn Bush said in a statement. “Her coaching experience, along with her dedication to player and program development, make her the best candidate to lead our young ladies on and off the court.”
Lampley’s coaching experience, as hinted at by Bush, includes assistant women’s basketball coach at Purdue University, founding and directing the Indiana Blaze AAU program in Fishers, Indiana, and serving as an assistant and then associate head girls basketball coach at Lawrence North High School.
Jaylah and Lola Lampley, Coach Lampley’s daughters, also play for the Lady Bears, putting up 19 points and 12 points in the championship game, respectively. Jaylah was also named the 2023-24 MaxPreps Player of the Year, averaging 18 points and nearly 6 rebounds this season. Her defense was also on display this season, netting an impressive 2.1 steals per game. Lola was not too far behind, averaging 10.4 points, 6 rebounds and 2.2. steals per game.
Lampley’s achievement as head coach is a significant milestone for all African American women in sports.
“It’s difficult as a young adult to set out for a goal that you’ve never seen,” Coach Lampley said in an interview. “I’m just proud. I can’t say enough about them.”
Contact senior sports writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral.
