Moran Lonning, the top assistant coach at Simpson College since 2016 and two-time Iowa Conference MVP at Luther College, has been named the new Central College women’s basketball coach.

Lonning’s father, Greg Lonning, was Central’s head wrestling coach from 1986-89. He led the Dutch to the 1989 Iowa Conference crown and a fifth-place NCAA Division III team finish, and like his daughter, he was an Iowa Conference MVP, winning the honor in 1982.

Lonning takes over for Joe Steinkamp, who was recently named Central’s head men’s basketball coach after piloting the women’s squad the past five years. A young Dutch squad posted a 6-15 record this past season but in 2021 advanced to the league tournament semifinals for the first time in 20 years. The program also has a successful tradition. Central has captured six conference women’s basketball crowns and gained five NCAA Division III tournament berths, winning the 1993 national title. All five starters from this past season are expected to return next year. At Simpson, Lonning was a co-leadership officer for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the past six years. Since 2021, she served as Simpson’s representative to the American Rivers Athletics Diversity Inclusion Designee as well as the school’s Athletics Coordinator of Community Outreach and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Officer.

A Decorah native, Lonning was a walk-on with the University of Northern Iowa’s team for three years, appearing in 23 games in the 2013-14 season before transferring to Luther. She was the 2014-15 co-winner of the Iowa Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award after helping Luther win the league tournament title and was captain of the school’s 2015-16 conference championship team. She received All-American honorable mention distinction from the WBCA and D3hoops.com.